Get Organized with this Home Improvement Recycling Project

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Issue 43

The Small Spaces Issue

Buy Your First Home
Southern BBQ, City Style
A-Frame House
Bikes of Portland

Bin There, Recycled That

Hang an over-the-door sorter.

by Chris Gardner

Photos by Alex Farnum

The people who own my building are horrible. They’re constantly raising my rent, and the maintenance is miserable—they still refuse to offer recycling options of any sort, so I’m forced to cruise solo on my quest to maintain a greener lifestyle. Hence the design of this back-of-the-door organizer: It saves space, can be easily disassembled for runs to the reuse center, and I can take it with me once I escape the clutches of my Earth-hating landlords.

Start by modifying the towel hooks so the shelving tracks can be attached to them. Use a utility knife to cut and remove any rubber or vinyl casing from the hook. If it’s made of bent metal, place it in a vise and bend to straighten it out. Repeat for the other hook.
Depending on the type of materials you’re using, you may now be able to secure the top of the tracks to the hooks with a bolt, washers, and nut (see illustration). If necessary, drill a small hole through the track using the drill bit, and then attach. (Remember when drilling into metal to go slowly and wear safety glasses). Repeat for the other shelving track and towel hook.
To protect your door, glue felt or rubber feet to the back of the tracks and towel hooks.
Hang the tracks on a door, at a distance 2” less than the width of the bins. Attach the shelf brackets to the tracks so that the bins will be spaced evenly.
For each set of brackets, cut a short length of Velcro, remove one side of the backing and stick it to the top of each bracket. Remove the other Velcro backing and carefully place a bin on top. Press firmly so that Velcro strip adheres to the bottom of the bin.
Apply stick-on letters or decals to identify the contents, and help do your part, one bottle, newspaper, or aluminum can at a time!