Evidently we make a lot more garbage than normal people because our kitchen trash can is always overflowing. I’ve tried my hardest to find a supersize rectangular trash can but to no avail. I’ve even tried using things like hampers but I can never find just the right one to fit the spot I need or else the bags won’t fit them. So, and here’s another minor embarrassing admission, I finally ended up using a large box. Now, before I hear those snide remarks of “taaaacky”, I did cover it with contact paper. But it was so large it needed those leaf bags to line it, which are black. That was tacky. The good part was we didn’t have to take the garbage out 5 times a day. (The older I get the more I’m amazed how many times utility wins out over aesthetics.)
Anyway, I used the same cardboard box for probably 4 years. In our current house we had moved our fridge and were able to put it in between the stove and our armoire pantry. Yes, you hear right and can read about that in our simple DIY pantry). But when we put in our new pantry the fridge had to go back where it initially was and we were left with no place to put our box trash can with the leaf bag. So we build a new one. It was super simple and filled the thin space between the stove and fridge. I also went on a search and found clear large leaf bags to fit it! Watch how we did it below. You might also enjoy the earlier part of our outdated kitchen transformation which this is part of.
Kitchen Trash Can Supplies
- 1/4″ thick Luan Plywood
- 1″x2″ cut in half for bracing pieces
- Table or Jig Saw
- Stapler that also does Brads (We own this manual one and its great!)
- Wood Glue
- Swivel Caster Wheels (ours took the 2″ size)
- Handle Any type you like. We used an old one we had.
- Paint
- Clear Bags 100 33 gallons (or whatever fits your trash container)
Instructions
This is my “box” trash bag covered in contact paper. I carried this through three houses, believe it or not. The black bag doesn’t help much.
When we redid our kitchen the fridge was moved back where it belonged to allow for our new pantry so we only had a small skinny place for the trash can. Roy measured it up and set out to design a trash can to fit that area. 
The bracing pieces were glued on then a brad stapler was used. 
Cutting the side pieces. 
More gluing and stapling of brads into the container.
It went together fairly quickly once the pieces were cut.
The last side piece was placed on and then the bottom. 
I had some old handles which and I painted one of them silver, as you can see, to use for the front of the trash can.
We used a 2″ set of swivel wheels. 
Wheels were screwed into the bottom corners.
The handle was attached to the front. 
Slide it into your space!
HI Nancy, did you ever make a lid for this? I love this idea and am thinking about doing it. I have a small kitchen and the only spot I can put my garbage can is in this skinny 9″ wide spot next to the fridge.
Hi Ashley!
No, we never put a lid on it. I’m one of those incredibly impatient people who didn’t want to be bothered with opening it every time I put garbage it. I’m sure it could be done with another piece of wood and some hinges. Good luck! Thanks so much for visiting the website. Ü
And if it all fails, my husband is quite handy, so I will get him to make me one…. 🙂
The joints should have been filled and the hardware the same as on the cabinets.
This is such a great idea, having moved my bin to the laundry cause it didn’t really fit anywhere nicely in my kitchen and all shelves in my kitchen cupboards don’t allow for a bin to fit inside, I have been looking for ways to move it back to kitchen.
Saw your idea and thought brilliant, although I am going to try to find a skinny bin (having been looking at Ikea) to fit beside my fridge. We recently just bought a new fridge which was somewhat smaller, so I have plenty of room in the fridge space to fit a bin….. I am so excited to try this idea, thank you 🙂
So glad you found something useful on our site Kathy! Good luck with the project, whether you OR your husband does it. Ü
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As it had snowed a lot last Monday night and I had deskinned and deboned chicken legs fior my dogs dinner I threw eveeything in a bag and into the trash. Normally I would have taken it out immediately but I was tired and in slippers. I wedgedthe trash can in the corner. At 4 am Daisy got me up to go out and there was the garbage can laying on it’s side and the bag nearly empty of bones. I have been wracking my brain how to keep her out of trash. My can was too wide to fit where yours is. So my son will be making your can this week end. And no matter what bones will go in the outside trash right away.
lol…. our dog Oliver LOVES to get into the trash so we’ve had to get creative here too. I switched to these http://amzn.to/2nh3SQK trash things that hang inside the doors in my bathrooms and of course use my new tall one we made in the kitchen. So my trash is now safe! So glad you found this helpful! Thanks Jody for visiting and taking the time to comment. Ü Nancy