Waste not
Changes to the rules about single-use plastic bags mean we have to think carefully about how to get rid of rubbish. abode's Kitchen design expert Nicky Claridge shares her thoughts on some clever bin solutions.
Lately, household waste has become a hot topic in the kitchen design world and with the recent ban on single-use plastic bags, and a renewed push to reduce, reuse and recycle, planning how to take care of your household rubbish has become a vital part of any design solution.
Each household is different, and when working with my clients on a solution, I ask them questions like:
How much ‘red bin’ or ‘landfill’ waste does the family produce over 2-3 days?
Is a waste disposal unit being used or is a composting system required?
Where should the ‘reusable’ shopping bags be kept?
Is a larger recycling bin needed?
The answers to these essential questions determine the size and style of bin system I specify for a project. I work closely with Fit-NZ as they offer a vast range of options in their Tanova Designer bin systems.
The Tanova Designer System incorporates up to 60kg capacity and boasts a fully integrated cushioning system to ensure consistent soft close, while the runners are specifically designed for easy removal of the rear buckets. The streamlined design reduces any build-up of grime, and an easy-clean cover prevents odours leaking. The range offers flexibility with configuration of the buckets. Clients often choose four 20 litre bins, stacked above one another in sets of two, to cater for recycling of glass, tin and plastic, plus waste disposal.
As part of the system, I love that clients can incorporate a unique product called a Bokashi bin, a smart composting bin designed to turn any food waste into supercharged food for your garden. It’s fantastic to see innovative systems for waste disposal becoming readily available for the household kitchen.
Whatever needs your household has for removing waste and recycling, it’s an often overlooked and important part of designing a kitchen. With thought and planning and the right products, a great system for removing waste makes a huge difference to the functionality of your kitchen.
Bokashi is easy to use and has many benefits:
Add ANY food waste, including meat and dairy, to your pull out Bokashi bucket, compacting as you go.
Add Bokashi bran, the ‘magical’ food and microorganisms that will turn your kitchen scraps into ‘superfood’ for your garden.
Use the handy tap to drain out Bokashi fluid every 2-3 days, dilute with water and feed to plants in the garden.
Dig the bucket contents into your soil or compost bin.
The Bokashi mix provides powerful, concentrated nutrients and accelerates garden growth, turning into soil within 2-3 weeks.
Bokashi uses anaerobic (no oxygen) fermentation and the bin features an airtight lid to avoid unpleasant odours or pesky fruit flies.
021 240 9225 | ncdesign.co.nz
