Does the shape of the dustbin matter?

[_Larry_]

Does it matter if I use a commercially available cylindrical bin, or can I build a square one? What if it is wider than it is tall? Does it matter at all?

 

[bababrown]

Larry,
Look thru the gallery and you will find several examples of home-built rectangular dust bins. Apparently they work okay but I would not build one a lot wider than high. The important thing is to have the bin sealed tight as leaks will destroy the separation.
bababrown

 

[McRabbet]

As bababrown has said, the size does not matter, but insuring that it is completely sealed from any leaks does matter -- critically! Some of my Bin Sensor customers have built large capacity bins (one even modified a steel dumpster bin!) to increase the time between their bin servicing intervals. Another factor is the strength of the materials used to build a bin -- one large advantage of a cylindrical bin is that the structure is inherently strong and harder to crush than a cube from external pressure. A square or rectangular wall is weaker, so materials need to be stronger to tolerate the external pressure. But, common waste receptacles like a Rubbermaid "Big Brute" are not strong enough either. I use a 55 gallon polyethylene food drum that is very robust.

 

[_Larry_]

Thanks guys.
I didn't realize there was a gallery.
I would just buy a bin, but my ceiling is a bit low, so the ideal bins are too tall, and the bins that will fit are smaller than I would like.
I think I will go with building one.
Sounds like I will need a lot of sealant!