Cheap source of small gauge metal mesh

[RogerS]

Our local council is changing refuse collection to every other week. We don't like keeping full black bags inside the house for obvious reasons but the rats have started munching through the bags. So two weeks between collections means I need something more secure. I have a couple of dustbins but TBH don't think that they will be enough space and so my thoughts were leaning towards a metal cage.

But the mesh needs to be quite small (less than 1/2") as rats can get through the tiniest of spaces. So what is the cheapest sort? Expanded mesh?

Either that or I rig up some sort of aerial contraption with heavy-duty crocodile clamps to hold the bags up in the air.

All suggestions welcome.

 

[AndyP]

Two people fill one dustbin in a week. I am surprised as we, a family of 5, do not fill one dustbin in a week. Which is why, even though we have twice weekly, yes that's twice weekly, rubbish collections we only ever put the bin out once a week.

I bought weld mesh once to stop the herons getting the gold fish. But hanging the bags up and out of the way might be easier. Or build a small brick store which would be easier on the eye.

 

[RogerS]

Two people fill one dustbin in a week. I am surprised as we, a family of 5, do not fill one dustbin in a week. Which is why, even though we have twice weekly, yes that's twice weekly, rubbish collections we only ever put the bin out once a week.

I bought weld mesh once to stop the herons getting the gold fish. But hanging the bags up and out of the way might be easier. Or build a small brick store which would be easier on the eye.

It's all that foie gras we end up throwing away!

Seriously, could be the way SWMBO packs the bags as I agree with you re the dustbin...but it does depend on dustbin size. The ones down our way are a pretty feeble 80 litres and the cross-sectional area means the bag never gets to the bottom and so it's really more like one bag per bin....hence my thoughts on a cage. Eye-sore quotient not a problem as it will go behind the workshop/outbuilding. I'm not fussed if the cattle are offended!

We compost anything we can but stuff like fish bones, anything meat-wise etc needs to go in the rubbish bag. We have a separate recycling bag that takes most plastics, paper, the odd can. I think it's the plastic stuff that can't be recycled adds to the bag volume as they don't compress down very much and are bulky. Newspapers either are used to light the fire or as floor coverings for DIY. Bottles are recycled by us separately. So I'm not sure what goes in those black bags !

 

[Deejay]

Afternoon Roger

http://www.meshdirect.co.uk/product.php ... 283&page=1

Any good?

80 litres is a bit small isn't it? All our three bins are 240 litres. If the council have halved the number of collections it seems fair that they give you a bin with double the capacity. I'd speak (nicely ) to them and ask for a bigger bin.

Cheers

Dave

 

[RogerS]

Hi Dave

That's a brilliant link, thanks.

We have opted not to have council bins as technically the point of collection is where our track joins the road. Thats 3/4 mile from the house and no way I'm going to take a wheelie-bin all that way!

The refuse lorry did use to collect from us but after the last Foot and Mouth outbreak we told them that we would bring out bags down to the gate. But when that all cleared up, we thought it made sense to minimise the traffic on our track/drive and so carried on taking down our black bags and recycling bags.

TBH our council does have a brilliant recycling scheme. We don't have to do any sorting of recycling materials. No bin for this, bin for that, bin for something else. It all goes in the one sack or bin and their new facility does the sorting - mostly automatically.

Roger

 

[Rod]

Why don't you put your bags inside your wheelie bins until you need to take them to the collection point?
Our council does fortnightly collections - 1 week refuse (wheelie bin) and garden waste (green bag) the following week recycling bin. Glass we take to separate collection points - 1 in our village and lots of other places dotted around.
Our refuse bin rarely gets filled in the two weeks but our recycling one generally does.

Rod

 

[RogerS]

We don't have wheelie-bins.

 

[Rod]

Sorry - but you mentioned them - I read it as it was your choice not to use them?

Rod

 

[RogerS]

Yes because as I said, it would be too impractical to wheel them 3/4 a mile down and back to our gate.

 

[Rod]

But you could get the Council to supply them and use them for storage as I suggested ?
I got an extra one ( I think I paid £45?) and use it for storing my sacks of wild bird food - weather and vermin proof.
Years ago when I lived elsewhere, we used plastic sacks housed in a metal cage to protect from vermin but the bags were always splitting with sharp edges, objects etc and the waste tumbling out - I hate plastic bags!

Rod

 

[Frank]

Roger have you thought of getting a large water butt, old oil drum or other large receptacle that would make inexpensive storage for you waste bags prior to collection

But you could get the Council to supply them and use them for storage as I suggested ?
I got an extra one ( I think I paid £45?) and use it for storing my sacks of wild bird food - weather and vermin proof.

My local council in their infinite wisdom trialled garden waste wheelie bins a few years ago, I'm unsure what they expected my to put in it as what constitutes my garden is so small that the biggest difficultly was finding somewhere to house the bin.
Though as you point out Rod they do make excellent storage, I keep a few small garden tools, the hose pipe & washing paraphernalia for the car in mine, I have thought of making a couple of interlocking totes with long handles to make accessing the items at the bottom easier to reach.


Kind regards,

Frank.

 

[RogerS]

Ah I see where you're coming from. Good idea, guys, thanks.

 

[AndyP]

wheelie bins are also good for carrying water around the garden.