How do I plan for kitchen waste and recycling storage in my NB renovation?

Plan for a minimum three-bin pull-out waste system in your kitchen renovation to accommodate New Brunswick's municipal waste sorting requirements for garbage, recyclables, and compost. Waste and recycling storage is one of the most overlooked elements of kitchen design, and retrofitting it after the renovation is far more costly and awkward than building it in from the start.

Most New Brunswick municipalities, including Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John, operate curbside sorting programs that require separating household waste into at least garbage, single-stream recycling, and organic waste or compost. Your kitchen needs dedicated space for each stream, ideally concealed inside cabinetry for both hygiene and aesthetics. The most popular solution is a pull-out waste organizer installed in a base cabinet, which slides out on full-extension drawer slides for easy access and hides everything behind a cabinet door when closed.

For the pull-out system, allocate a minimum 18-inch-wide base cabinet near the sink or at the end of a countertop run, which fits two bins side by side. A 24-inch cabinet is even better and can accommodate three bins for garbage, recycling, and compost. Quality pull-out waste systems from manufacturers like Rev-A-Shelf cost $150 to $400 for the hardware, plus the cost of the cabinet itself. Top-mount systems that attach to the cabinet door so the bins pull out when the door opens are the most convenient because you can open them with one hand or a knee bump while your hands are full. Bottom-mount systems are less expensive but require you to open the door and then pull the drawer separately.

Placement and Sizing Strategy

Position your waste cabinet within one or two steps of your primary prep area and sink. The natural workflow in a kitchen moves from prep to cooking to cleanup, and having your waste and recycling bins along that path makes sorting effortless. If your kitchen island includes a prep sink, consider a small single-bin pull-out on the island for food scraps during meal prep, with the main waste station near the primary sink.

For household size, plan bin capacity based on your family's volume. A family of four in NB typically generates enough waste to fill a standard 35-litre garbage bin and a 35-litre recycling bin every three to five days between collection periods. If your municipality collects bi-weekly, you may need larger bins or a secondary recycling station in a pantry, mudroom, or garage. Compost bins should have lids that seal well because NB's warm, humid summers accelerate decomposition and odour. Look for bins with charcoal-filter lids or plan to empty the kitchen compost bin into your outdoor green bin daily during summer months.

Do not forget about non-standard recyclables that NB residents need to manage separately, such as beverage containers eligible for deposit refund at Encorp Atlantic depots. A small bag or bin in the pantry for returnables keeps them separate from curbside recycling. If you have space, a pull-out recycling centre in a tall pantry cabinet with multiple bins gives you room to pre-sort paper, plastics, and glass.

During the design phase, confirm with your cabinet supplier that pull-out waste hardware is compatible with the specific cabinet line you are selecting. Some stock cabinets from big-box stores have internal dimensions that do not accommodate standard waste systems. Semi-custom and custom cabinets ($10,000 to $25,000 for a full kitchen) can be built to exact specifications for your waste management needs. Find a kitchen renovator who prioritizes functional design through New Brunswick Kitchens.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations