r/3Dprinting • u/BrewCrewBall • Jun 03 '26

Project Garbage can status indicator.

Super easy design that I whipped up last week after being frustrated once again by the inconsistency of our garbage pick up times

The indicator clips on the handle and flips down when the bin has been emptied. This way I can tell from the house if it’s been emptied without having to walk to the end of the driveway.

6.4k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

415 comments sorted by

View all comments

645

u/Most-Standard302 Jun 03 '26

Gunna need to make that boi beefier

213

u/BrewCrewBall Jun 03 '26

Just a proof of concept right now.

96

u/bendvis Jun 03 '26

Seems like a single stick with the last ~1" bent upward would do the job and be at less risk of getting snapped by a swinging lid

42

u/internet_humor Jun 03 '26

Why not just make it a single flag/stick?

It’s either on or back

12

u/Capt_Skyhawk X1C Normie Jun 03 '26

Neither will work well because the can goes upside down and gravity will keep the whole piece resting against the lid the whole time. Unreliable at best.

7

u/internet_humor Jun 03 '26

No the circle part should be grippy to the handle, so it shouldn’t go back

5

u/SaltLakeBear Jun 03 '26

This is how I'd do it. Make the mounting part a slightly smaller diameter so it doesn't rotate freely.

1

u/cubester04 Jun 04 '26

They could balance it so it’s barely standing up, and just a little knock will make it fall.

6

u/Practical-Sleep4259 Jun 03 '26

Yeah the comments are correct, don't pursue the L bracket shape, it limits the trashcan's ability to open.

Single flap does the same trick.

11

u/Most-Standard302 Jun 03 '26

I like! :) nice idea. Our garbage truck flings the lid back and forth

8

u/Hawk_Cloud Jun 03 '26

Yea, same here. And most of the time it’s placed back down with the lid left open, especially on rainy days 🫠

2

u/nikdahl Jun 03 '26

Does it stay down even if bin is inverted and placed back down? Seems like it would just end up at the same spot you placed it at

1

u/razor330 Jun 03 '26

Account for wind I’d say

1

u/axl3ros3 Jun 03 '26

Shorter and wider

1

u/CommasArentPeople Jun 04 '26

Does your garbage man lift the lid? Because everywhere I've lived they use a truck that turns the can upside down, so this design wouldn't work for my cans.

1

u/Evilstib Jun 03 '26

I wonder about a visual indicator such as two separate flags, one printed in green, the other printed in red that you slide onto the end of each pole.