I think its an awesome idea and it looks nice! I wouldnt worry about things getting accidentally thrown out. Id like to see the inner workings and where it actually goes to - the basement? under the cabinet? If its being used for trash I imagine the shute would get dirty and stinky!

My grandparents used to have laundry chutes, and they were so fun to use. I would think the same idea applies here with these chutes. I love it!

I remember houses with laundry chutes, too, and milk doors for the milkman to deliver milk, wood boxes that open to the shed and the kitchen, & old cubbyholes for the iceman to deliver ice that open into the kitchen. I think it's a great way to update the idea!

I think its a great idea, they could possibly open to the garage. But I think that these in particular do not look very nice with all of the tile grout going every which way.

Agreed, the tile is awful, very distracting, but the idea is great. I think I'd prefer something that pulled/tipped out, like a bin, as opposed to a swinging door. It'd help keep out the cookie cutters, good food and cats.

I would love it if it was a composting chute.

Great idea, I love it.

In a home where they lead to the garage and are well insulated, yes, awesome idea. But I do agree that the application needed help this time around.

embryoconcepts- Cat in the recycling chute is a funny thought!

Adam Carolla puts them in his houses, but it's a smaller round hole+chute. Mostly to recycle beer bottles.

I'm not sure I like it. Wouldn't the chute get awfully dirty? I can just imagine food items getting stuck along the sides and smelling.

I'm with hmo: A chute for compostables would be great. But like stoneflour I'd worry about smells and how to clean it!

all I can think of is how filthy the chutes would get and what a pain they would be to keep properly cleaned...

I like them better cut into the counter - I can just imagine how mucky they could become set into the wall.

With better cosmetics and a third for compost, I would absolutely love this!

Having lived in an apartment building with a trash chute I can say only one thing - eewwwwww. Unless they come with special designer bags which come all the way to the opening, food will get into every corner and smell awful. Also, even recycling can get gunky - just ask anyone who lives in a state with a deposit on glass and aluminum. The return on deposit areas are sticky and smelly.

Hmm...on the composting issue, you could always use composting bags, which is an additional cost, but it should cut down on the nasty factor. You'd definitely have to stay on top of taking it out to the full sized composter. Then, drench the sucker in vinegar and start again!

i would worry about the smell from food being left behind on the chutes

I have a trash and recycling just down the hall---that is great but we do have to get the chute professionally cleaned periodically and on my floor (2nd) you can smell the trash if it hasn't been removed from the bottom (ie the fumes will go up the chute from the trash below, it just goes to a holding room and then out to the dumpsters). So yeah, eeeew!

Skip the trash chute but give me the recycling chute! Recyclables are washed first anyway, so there shouldn't be a rotting food smell.

I wonder about cleaning them out--stuff will get on the walls after all and it is not clear that they could be frequently and easily cleaned.

I'll stick with my compost bowl that I empty after every use.

I would only use these for recycling.
I can imagine it getting very dirty if I put trash in there.

Also, if you're at all short, isn't it harder to push the trash back toward the wall?

Mmmmmmmm..... imagine the smell.........

::::barf:::::

I would totally use this for trash, but my partner and I are extreme recyclers and tend to only take out a small bin of dry garbage (we compost, as well) every-other week for pickup. I would totally dig this.

while the initial idea is pretty cool, I'm tending to agree with all the smell/clean up issues. major ik.
also to have something so specific designed and built into the back splash seems a bit excessive/over the top.

For garbage and recycling I see no significant odor/mess issues, as long as food scraps weren't included. But I grew up rinsing all non-seal-able food containers before disposal due to a terrible ant problem. And I agree--good idea, but the example is ugly.

love it!
I've been trying to do something similar, but to store graywater for the garden, and have a shoot built into my sink (e.g. where the unused soap pump is installed).

These would be so awesome if those chutes would lead straight outside to their respective bins - trash, compost, recyclables, whatever.

I actually love this idea. Though not for the backsplash. Our laundry room is right off our kitchen and shares a wall with the garage. We currently keep our recycling bin in there and it takes up a lot of room. I would love a chute in the laundry room wall to deposit our recycling into the garage. Must look into this right away. Thanks for the idea!

I would love a recycling chute from my kitchen window to the bin storage unit prior residents built or a laundry chute from the second floor to basement! Alas, chutes like these are against fire code in MA as far as I know. Fire spreads *really* fast through spaces like that.

AWESOME IDEA. RECYLE, INTO COMPOST BIN WOULD BE GREAT. NOT SURE HOW TO KEEP THE SMELL OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HOW TO CLEAN THEM. I CAN ENVISION SOME TYPE OF CAN LID WHERE THE CHUTE OUTLET FITS INTO IT. IF ITS NEAR THE SINK YOU COULD SPRAY IT OUT WHEN THE BINS ARE EMPTY

Let's talk code issues...
First of all, a direct chute to the garage where exhaust gases accumulate? I don't think so!

Second, what happened to fire-stop in the framing? Nearly as dangerous as balloon framing. What building inspector OK'd this?