Creating through-the-wall chutes for sorting and storing recyclables is a great way to reduce indoor clutter.

  • The room you want to use must be adjacent to another room like a garage or storage room. Locate and mark the studs inside the wall with a stud finder.
  • Lay out the location of the chutes on the inside, being careful to avoid the studs. We’re using pet doors to cover the chutes so they are used to mark the size of the holes that will be cut in the drywall. Be careful to avoid wires inside the walls.
  • The chutes themselves are built from pieces of 1/2-inch plywood. The inside opening matches the pet door’s size while the outside is slightly taller to allow the bottom of the chute to be angled down.
  • Cut the holes in the drywall on the garage side to match the larger end of the chutes so they can be fished into the wall from that side. The mounting screws for the pet door secure them on the inside while narrow molding tacked around the outside secures that side of the chute.
  • Add letters to the inside of the pet doors to designate which chute gets what recyclables.

Watch the video above to find out more.

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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