We have two wheelie bins outside, one for normal waste, one for recycling. Our council doesn't require different types of recycling waste be separated, and inside we have a slide-out under the kitchen island counter that hold the two necessary bins for separation. Separate to this we have a small compost bin on the counter. Anything we can compost ends up in the compost pits up in the veggie garden. A place we buy online stuff from is smart and packs their goods in these corn starch bubbles that look like foam - you can wash them down your loo/bath/tub or, as we do, compost them (they just dissolve when wet). This is important when remote - online is a great way to get everything you otherwise might have to travel 5 hours for, but packing materials quickly fill the bins, and there's only so much cardboard you can use as firestarters in winter) This is all helpfully motivated by the fact that we have no garbage service and our tip is about 30km away and that they don't charge for the recycling wheelie bin, while the waste wheelie bin is $10 per bin. We used to fill a waste wheelie bin every week or two prior to living here. Now we're only down the tip every 4-6 weeks (the good thing too is, all the old roof guttering & corro and ancient rolls of fencing and barbed wire that were dumped around the property are counted as metal recycling, and we've filled a couple of ute trips with that for nothing). We could probably do better than 4-6 weeks if we focussed more on (over-)packaging during the weekly shop. The only thing I want to figure out is dog poo composting. It's fine in winter, but when that wheelie bin sits in the summer sun for 4-6 weeks with increasing amounts of (even bagged) poo it gets a special kind of smell only the blowflies love (you don't want to see photos of our fly catcher bottle hung nearby).

Hi Bianca, I have just seen your post. I personally think the best answer to your question will depend on a few other considerations because it really depends on the kitchen layout as a whole. Considerations may include; how will this affect the work flow in your Kitchen and what are the alternative positions available to you? Importantly; how big is your island going to be; an Island can be a great space for food preparation, meal plating, as well as the island being a social space for family as well as when entertaining. When placing the Sink in an island you may consider a sink also needs adequate additional space each side of it for the various functions it is used for; whereby placing a sink in a small Island can sometimes take away from the other benefits it provides. There is actually no clear yes or no answer, but to consider your Kitchen layout, appliance placements and its work flow as a whole. With the other things you have already mentioned here, I hope this extra helps in your decision process.

Hi Helga, 1 ). The Island is 3.5m x 900cm ( the ridge down the middle is part of the railing system I used to get the posts so that won't be there) 2 ). Small appliance cupboard is 1m to Island (trying to get as much family space as possible and to fit the support beam/s in) my kitchen is 1100 between island and bench and I find that heaps and could easily be 1m. 3 ). The DW, window bench to Island is 1.225m , The fridge is 700deep so is 1.125m from the island, 4 ). The window bench with ovens is 1.125m to the wall of the small appliances and 950cm between ovens and pantry cabinets on the plan to allow for opening. All of these can be re positioned to line up correctly depending on what you thought, The Ovens can be swapped over to the far end of the Appliance cupboard and possibly move your appliances to where the ovens were. I think the twin beams could look great in your kitchen, I have worked artistic calculations for the beams so not sure how close I am. cheers

Thanks Yvonne, It's a great product this one was selected by Mr Plywood Newcastle with a beautiful grain. We had a narrow white laminate board set back under it to give the shadow line, most certainly do it again cheers