Trash Can Flag

The trash can flag allows you to effortlessly see when the trash can/bin has been emptied - from a distance and at a glance.

The trash can flag is printed in two parts: The "flag" side, and the "weight" side. The weight side should be printed in a drab, less eye-catching color, while the flag side should be printed in a bright, easily noticed color. Choose a plastic that can tolerate outdoor conditions - I use PETG, but I expect ABS or Nylon might be even better.

When the trash can is placed at the curb, the flag is rotated to the "down" position, with only the "weight" side easily visible. When the can is emptied, the tilting of the can causes the flag to naturally rotate around the can handle, leaving the "flag" end pointing up and easily visible.

The weight side will need to have a weight added. I use a 5/16 inch bolt, with a nut to hold it in place. More civilized folks would probably use an M8 bolt. The size is not critical, and I expect a 1/4 inch (M6) bolt would work just fine. I use a nylon insert nut to prevent it from vibrating loose, but two nuts tightened against each other, or use of "thread lock" should work fine.

The weight side and the flag side snap together around the trash can's handle, but I have found that the snap connection is not always strong enough, so there is a slot to allow a cable tie to be wrapped around the two halves to secure them together.

I designed this to work with a "Toter" brand trash can. I don't know how well it would work on any other can. Please let me know your experience with other cans!