What is a trash chute?
A trash chute, also called a garbage chute, is a galvanized steel tube designed to transport waste from higher to lower levels efficiently. Chutes must be one continuous length from top to bottom, with their design, installation, and maintenance regulated by the National Fire Protection Agency. There are several different types of chutes, however, they are identical in construction except for the entry and exit points. There are two different types of entry doors: side-hinged doors that open like a car door and bottom-hinged doors that pull down, resembling a mailbox slot.
What are Building Chutes Used for?
Mid-rise and high-rise buildings use chutes to efficiently and hygienically collect and dispose of garbage and other large-volume materials. The type of chute installed depends on the materials it will handle. Some of the more common items are trash, recycling, and linen or laundry. Trash and recycling will usually be found in an apartment building or residential high-rise, while linen chutes are more common in hotels.
Where Does Trash Go When Using a Garbage Chute?
In a larger, high-rise building, it would be common for trash or recycle chutes to empty directly into a compactor. While a smaller, mid-rise building with less room may have a manual door that empties into a dumpster. The dumpster can then be pushed out for garbage pickup a few times per week.
What Type of Garbage Can I Put in a Trash Chute?
A big part of chute maintenance falls on the residents because they are the individuals utilizing the chutes daily. Property and building managers often have signs posted at each intake door outlining what can and cannot be put through the trash chute and instructions on how to dispose of or break down certain items.
- Garbage chutes – All household waste should be wrapped and sealed tightly in plastic bags.
- Recycle chutes – It is best to crush milk cartons and gallon plastic milk jugs along with soda cans and any other items that can be made smaller.
- Laundry Chutes – Only linens should be dropped down a laundry chute. Do not use it to dispose of no shoes or hangers.
Proper Trash Chute Maintenance
Why is Trash Chute Door Maintenance Important?
Maintaining a chute and all the parts is important. Latches and hinges on a building’s garbage chute must be checked on a regular basis. Trash chute doors should form a secure seal when closed to contain odors and germs, as well as to prevent smoke or flames from spreading during a fire.
- Intake Door – The entry door where garbage and other materials are deposited.
- Discharge Door –Located at the bottom of the trash chute, this door manages how materials exit. Some discharge doors open automatically via springs triggered by weight, others are automated, and some require manual operation. How the chute discharge doors open is usually determined by where the items are landing.
How do I Clean a Trash Chute?
Making sure that all the parts of a garbage chute are functioning correctly is only half the maintenance necessary; trash chutes need to be cleaned and sanitized regularly. Building managers and superintendents are typically in charge maintaining commercial trash chute cleaning and odor control services and will usually have an annual contract in place. Hiring a professional trash chute cleaning company that provides cleaning, deodorizing, and disinfecting services for dumpster & trash compactors and loading docks can be a money and time saver.
Can Cleaning My Trash Chute Stop Pest Infestation?
Improper disposal of liquids or food debris in a trash chute doesn’t just cause physical damage—it creates the perfect environment for harmful bacteria and mold to thrive. This growth can lead to poor air quality, which poses health risks and produces unpleasant odors. These odors attract rodents and bugs, such as rats and rodents, which are difficult and expensive to exterminate. Rodents multiply quickly and can turn into a large infestation in a very short period.
What is the Best Detergent to Use on Trash Chutes?
Our foam is an effective, cost-saving, and eco-friendly solution designed to tackle tough grime while eliminating mold, bacteria, and mildew. Fresh Focus’ patented commercial, no-rinse foam cleaner and deodorizer clings to dirty surfaces for extended dwell time, ensuring deep cleaning and odor removal. It not only absorbs dirt and grime but also effectively eliminates food, smoke, and pet odors.
How a Trash Chute Cleaning Service Helps Property Managers
Following the guidelines for proper disposal and trash chute use can keep a building’s garbage system in good condition. Emergency trash chute repairs and dumpster or compactor cleanings are expensive and aren’t always available immediately. When these systems are out of order, residents are impacted the most. Practicing proper chute etiquette not only supports building staff but also shows consideration for your neighbors.
Our foam is the best foam cleaning and deodorizing solution for trash chutes in commercial, multifamily, and high-rise buildings. From apartment complexes to warehouses to retail stores, if you have a garbage chute, managers must ensure trash chutes function properly and stay sanitized. While cleaning a trash chute can be a challenge for property maintenance managers, it is a proactive and preventive way to stop the spread of harmful bacteria, mold, and offensive odors.
Fresh Focus provides building managers from New York City to Washington D.C. with eco-friendly, chemical-free solutions. Our products and services eliminate mold and bacteria inside trash chutes, while cutting-edge products like Repel-A-Smell deodorizes commercial and residential properties.
Request a quote to get started today!
