When it comes to holding rolls of trash bags, it just so happens the cardboard boxes they come in are not very efficient. Boxes get beaten up, torn open, and trash bags unravel if enough care isn’t taken when tossing them under your sink or in the cleaning closet. If you’ve ever thought about how to make a superior trash bag dispenser, we have the answer for you.
PVC pipes are a great option for a number of different projects, including making your very own trash bag dispenser. PVC is an inexpensive, easy-to-work-with material that will be simple to install and maintain.
Materials Needed to Make a PVC Trash Bag Dispenser
There are a number of different tools and materials you will need to complete this project. The size of the pipe you require will change depending on the size of your trash bags, so pick those out first!
Materials Needed
•PVC Pipe (1” in diameter larger than roll of trash bags, such as one of these)
•(2) PVC Plugs (such as these or similar ones, be sure to get the same diameter as your pipe)
•PVC Glue (check out ours)
•(2) PVC Slip Coverings
•1/4” rope
•Wood screws
Tools Required
•Tape Measure
•Pencil
•Hacksaw
•Bar Clamps
•Power Drill
•1/4” drill bit
•3/8” drill bit
•Jigsaw
•Fine grit sandpaper
•Screw gun
Steps to Make a PVC Trash Bag Dispenser
Step 1: Prepare Your PVC
Use a hacksaw to cut a piece of PVC pipe approximately 4 inches longer than the roll of trash bags.
Once your PVC is cut, secure it to a sawhorse or other workbench with your bar clamps.
Once the pipe is held stable, begin marking the space you’ll be cutting into with a pencil. Begin by drawing a straight line along the length of the pipe, beginning and ending the pencil mark approximately 2 inches inward from each end of the pipe. Afterwards, measure over about ½ an inch and draw an identical line. Connect the two lines at each end to form a rectangle, and you’ve successfully marked the outline of your trash bag slot.
Step 2: Drill into PVC
Once you can clearly see where you’ll be cutting your PVC, use your power drill with a ¼ inch bit to drill pilot holes on each corner of the outline. Afterwards, switch out your ¼ inch bit for a ⅜ inch bit, and drill a hole through the middle of one of the PVC plugs, so that you can thread rope through it later.
Step 3: Cut Dispenser Opening
Image Sourced from PVC Workshop
With an all-purpose blade that is meant to cut plastics, use your jigsaw to cut out the rectangle slot from your PVC.
After cutting the hole, smooth the edges using sandpaper with a fine grit. This will remove any small PVC particles left behind by the jigsaw.
Step 4: Glue Couplings
Using your PVC glue, secure the PVC slip couplings onto each end of the PVC pipe. Make sure the ends of the slip couplings are flush with the ends of pipe.
Step 5: Create Mounting Holes
First, drill a hole using a ⅜ inch bit through the center of each coupling and through the pipe it’s on. Holes should be aligned with the center of the ½ inch slot.
Once this is complete, insert a ¼ inch bit through the ⅜ inch hole in the coupling and drill a hole through the pipe and the other side of the coupling.
Step 6: Glue on One Plug
Using PVC glue, secure the plug that has not been drilled through onto one end of the PVC trash dispenser. Make sure the plug is flush with the end of the pipe.
Step 7: Insert Trash Bags
Now it is time to insert your trash bags! Slide them into the PVC and pull the loose end of the trash bag roll through the ½ inch slot in the PVC.
Step 8: Install Remaining Plug
Grab the remaining plug, which you drilled a hole through earlier, and thread a section of ¼ inch rope through the hole. Tie a knot at each end of the section of rope, and then push the plug securely into the open end of the PVC pipe. Pulling on the rope will make opening your PVC trash bag dispenser easier.
Step 9: Mount Trash Dispenser
Once your trash bag dispenser is complete, simply find a spot to mount it. The back of a cabinet door, inside your garage, and next to your trash can are all great ideas on where to mount your dispenser.
To mount your dispenser, first mark the mounting hole locations with your pencil. Drill the appropriate-sized mounting holes into the surface where you will mount your dispenser.
Once your mounting holes are drilled, hold the dispenser up, aligning the mounting holes on the pipe and the mounting surface. Then, using a screw gun, drive wood screws through the mounting holes to hang your dispenser, and you’re done!
Using Your Trash Bag Dispenser
There are a lot of different ways that you can customize your trash bag dispenser. For example, you can change the shape and size of the dispenser to work better for different things. You could create a paper towel dispenser, a grocery bag holder, or even a dog waste bag dispenser using the same principles in this tutorial. The size and shape of the PVC will change to better fit these materials, so make sure you measure whatever will be dispensed before purchasing your PVC.
Another fun option for customization would be to paint or otherwise decorate your trash bag dispenser. For parents, this can be a fun way to get your kids involved in a project. Dispensers could be painted to blend into their surroundings or to look like something else completely. The limits are endless with this fun and efficient project!