Garbage chutes are mechanisms that consolidate trash from each floor of a building – or select floors of each building – via a chute, allowing all trash to collectively compile in a singular location. Garbage chutes are essential to apartment buildings, and make for an effective way to dispose of trash.

What's a chute system?

[′shüt ‚sis·təm] (mining engineering) A method of mining by which ore is broken from the surface downward into chutes and is removed through passageways below. Also known as glory-hole system; milling system.

How does a chute work?

With a trash chute, the trash is bagged and dropped into the chute by an occupant of the building. In many cases, the trash falls directly from the chute into a roll-off bin or dumpster at the lowest level of the building and is never touched by human hands again.