What is a garbage chute, almost everyone living in a multi-story building knows. When such innovations were introduced, they were valued by tenants, as they say, worth its weight in gold. However, over time, many came to the conclusion that the garbage chute in an apartment building is one of the evils, a source of noise and bad smell, infections and parasitic animals. Let's look at the device, the shortcomings, the advantages of this object and other features in order to come to an objective conclusion.
Garbage chute device
We will get acquainted with the waste receiver system in apartment buildings. These are the following elements:
- The trunk of the chute. Long vertical metal or asbestos-cement pipe. It passes through the floors of the building. It is through this pipe that garbage makes its way to the container of the garbage collection chamber. Its standard diameter is 400 mm.
- Loading valve. This is the device with a hatch where tenants on their floor put packages of waste.
- Shiber. It can be either direct or inclined. A device at the end of the barrel of the waste bin, which allows you to temporarily block the pipe. Why is this needed? So that the janitor could clean the garbage container, and waste at this time did not enter the chamber. Also, such overlap is necessary during repair, maintenance work.
- Support clutch. The element that connects the gate to the waste bin.
- Fire damper. A very important component. If a fire occurs in the mine chute, the valve automatically shuts off the pipe, preventing the flame from spreading to the garbage collection chamber. It is often embedded in the gate.
- Washing device. It is necessary for pipe cleaning. In addition, in case of fire it is used as a means of automatic extinguishing.
- Ventilation unit. Located at the top of the chute. Responsible for extracting unpleasant odors. A deflector is built into the unit, which does not allow sediment to enter the trunk.
- Garbage collection chamber. The room where the containers that receive the waste are located. Usually located on the ground floor or in the basement.
- Container. Waste from the waste bin trunk comes here. It is a trash can on wheels.
- Compactor. The device that tamps compacts the debris entering the container.
- Extinguisher. A device that slows down the speed of falling debris. It is it that prevents noise.
Advantages and disadvantages of the device
Garbage chutes in residential buildings - evil or one of the useful inventions? Let's look at the pros and cons of such devices.
| Advantages | disadvantages |
| Convenience - no need to go outside to throw garbage into a container, which is unpleasant in bad weather, it takes time. In addition, such “trips” are difficult for people with limited mobility. | Unsanitary conditions and its sad consequences if there are residents in the house who are negligent in relation to the device |
| Saving. Surprisingly, sometimes the fee for using the garbage collection in the house is much lower than the cost of removal of solid waste from containers in the territory of the house | Crashing from ejected garbage. Especially when the residents of the last floors of a skyscraper use the garbage chute |
| Aesthetic factor. If citizens treat the chute in good faith, then it does not cause inconvenience. What can not be said about the garbage container - the tank spoils the view of the house area, it can become a shelter for homeless animals. The wind, marginals, hooligans do their job, turning these containers in the yard | Bad smell if waste collection, disinfection of the chute is not carried out by the utilities on time |
| . | Very favorable conditions for breeding rats, mice, cockroaches, and other unpleasant "neighbors" |
Let's move on to the next section.
Garbage Chute Maintenance
Maintenance of a chute in an apartment building is the prerogative of the management company or company that the meeting of homeowners has chosen to perform this task.
According to the current legislation, the service includes the following:
- Daily garbage collection. The schedule for this must include a service contract.
- Disinfection system. Held every month. If the garbage collector is of a new type (equipped with cleaning devices), then every week.
These requirements are based on SNiP 42-128-4690-88 (paragraph 2.2.8).
UK and garbage chutes
If there are any problems with the chute, not because of the negligence of the residents, namely through the fault of the management company, then the first thing to solve is the problem with its management. Indeed, according to Art. 36 of the Russian Housing Code, the Criminal Code is obliged to service all common house internal access property, including the garbage collection.
As part of this, an agreement must be concluded with the management company for the maintenance of the waste bin, as well as the removal of household waste that accumulates in the device. If such an agreement exists, then the maintenance of the garbage chute is the prerogative of the Criminal Code. By the way, to eliminate malfunctions associated with the device, as well as to eliminate blockages in it, according to the law of the management company, exactly one day is provided.
Disposal rules
Purely, as you know, where they do not litter. Therefore, it is enough to follow the simple rules for using the garbage chute in an apartment building so that it does not become garbage in the stairwell and the headache of all residents:
- Do not throw bulky waste into the device that could cause it to become clogged.
- Place garbage before sending it to the receiver in a special bag or other container.
- Do not spill liquid waste.
- Do not throw burning or smoldering objects, which may result in a fire.
Garbage chute and letter of the law
A number of legal problems are associated with this device due to the fact that there is no single law governing the arrangement, functioning, and liquidation of this indicator of comfort. One of the current SNiPs responsible for the garbage chute in an apartment building is the document adopted on January 31, 2013. But everything is not completely clear with him, since he was subjected to several editions:
- In its original form (2011), the garbage collection was mandatory in homes specially built for the disabled and senior citizens. The issue with other residential buildings lay on the conscience of the city authorities.
- In its final form (2016), SNiPa states that the garbage chute is mandatory in homes for disabled and senior citizens above two floors, as well as in other residential buildings with a height of more than five floors.
But here there is a clarification on the same SNiPu. The developer may not have to install a waste receiver in a residential building if the daily removal of solid household waste (solid household waste) from containers installed in the local area is organized. I must say that such an alternative is supported by Rosstandart.
Is the conservation of the waste bin real?
If homeowners are against the garbage chute at the entrance, then the problem is solved radically - hatches on all floors are simply brewed. The reason is unsanitary conditions, the high cost of use, etc.
However, the procedure for preserving the garbage container at the entrance has a number of nuances:
- The initiator can be even one tenant. But his proposal should be supported by at least 1/2 homeowners in this house.
- Without the consent of other residents, no one has the right to seek the closure of the hatch even on their floor.
- Another important point.Regardless of whether the garbage container is brewed on one landing or in the entire staircase, all residents of the house are invited to take a general decision.
How to close the chute?
The problem is solved in the following way:
- Entering the issue of conservation of the garbage chute on the agenda of the meeting of residents.
- Each owner must sign for being invited to the meeting, that he is aware of the issue under discussion.
- A documentary solution to the issue of introducing an alternative - street containers (a special area has been allocated, the tanks themselves have been purchased and delivered, an agreement has been concluded with the appropriate company for waste collection, etc.).
Waste bin recovery
The reverse case is also relevant, when the garbage chute becomes again necessary for residents. However, the restoration of his work is not an easy process. After all, you have to clean the pipe, repair or replace hatches damaged by welding. Nevertheless, the management company must meet the tenants at their request. Otherwise, the problem is resolved through the court.
For the judicial system to start considering a case, a decision by the homeowners, signed by at least half of all residents, is necessary. As practice shows, the lawsuit is most often satisfied in such cases:
- The plaintiffs are pensioners and people with disabilities.
- The garbage chute closure was temporary (for example, during the redecoration of the entrance), but at the end of the work its functionality was not restored.
- The UK instead of eliminating the blockage simply chose to brew the hatches.
- The procedure for preserving the garbage container was wrong.
A garbage chute is a useful device if tenants comply with the rules for using it, and the management company conscientiously engages in maintenance. Otherwise, apartment owners may advocate for its conservation.