Garbage day reminder
This is a great way to remember to take out the trash before garbage day. The tile on the dashboard lights up red, so you know you have a task to complete. Once you are done, simply click the tile to turn it back green. This indicates you have completed the task.
Use cases
Weekly reminders
- Garbage Day - Take out the trash before collection
- Recycling Day - Sort and put out recycling
- Yard Waste - Seasonal collection reminders
Other scheduled tasks
- Water Plants - Weekly or bi-weekly reminders
- Pet Care - Medication or grooming reminders
- Filter Changes - HVAC or water filter reminders
Products needed
Essential Equipment
SharpTools, Home Assistant, Hubitat Dashboard, or ActionTiles
Basic automation setup
Triggers
- Every Wednesday at 6:00 PM (adjust for your garbage day)
Conditions
- None
Actions
- Turn on the virtual switch or variable
Dashboard tile setup
- Create a virtual switch named “Garbage Out”
- Add tile to dashboard linked to the virtual switch
- Configure tile colors:
- OFF state (green): Task completed or not due
- ON state (red): Garbage needs to go out
- When you complete the task, tap the tile to turn it green
Platform-specific examples
Home Assistant
SmartThings
Hubitat
SharpTools
Advanced features
Calendar integration
You can take this to a new level if you integrate with the garbage company’s service calendar. That way you don’t falsely get a reminder on holidays when no garbage is being picked up. Also, if there’s a change in schedule due to weather your smart home adapts accordingly.
Implementation options:
- ICS calendar import: Many garbage companies provide ICS calendar feeds you can subscribe to
- Custom integration: Some regions have community-built integrations (check Home Assistant Community Store)
- Manual calendar: Create a Google/Apple calendar with your garbage schedule and check it as a condition
- API integration: Some waste management companies offer APIs for service schedules
Multiple bins
Create separate virtual switches for different collection types:
- Trash: Every week (e.g., Wednesday)
- Recycling: Every two weeks or different day
- Yard Waste: Seasonal schedule
- Bulk Pickup: Monthly or on-demand
Auto-reset
Reset the reminder automatically after garbage is collected:
Triggers:
- Time is Thursday at 10:00 AM (after collection)
Actions:
- Turn off “Garbage Out” virtual switch
Troubleshooting
Issue: Reminder at wrong time
Solutions: ✅ Verify your hub’s time zone settings ✅ Check daylight saving time adjustments ✅ Use local time, not UTC
Issue: Tile doesn’t change color
Solutions: ✅ Verify virtual switch is properly linked to tile ✅ Check dashboard tile color settings ✅ Refresh dashboard if using cached view
Issue: Forgot to tap tile after completing task
Solutions: ✅ Add auto-reset automation as described above ✅ Use NFC tag at trash cans to automatically complete ✅ Create voice command: “Alexa, garbage is out”
Related automations: