Ohio woman falls into recycling bin, dies inside

[sinkingfeeling]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44074750/ns/us_news-environment/

TOLEDO, Ohio — A woman who died after falling face-first into a recycling bin and wasn't noticed until her husband came from work had gotten stuck in a position in which she couldn't breathe, a coroner said.

Sheila Decoster, 62, was likely inside the bin for several hours before she was found Friday, said Lucas County Deputy Coroner Diane Barnett. The woman's husband saw her legs sticking out of the 64-gallon container that sits alongside their porch.

The couple, married for 43 years, kept their recycling and trash bins next to their porch, which does not have a railing. Investigators said it looked like Sheila Decoster was standing on her porch when she leaned over, lifted the lid on the bin and fell inside.

Decoster died from positional asphyxia, which means she couldn't breathe because of the way she stuck, Barnett said.

There were many complaints about the large recycling bins when they were distributed two years ago. Residents said they were too big and difficult to move, especially for older and disabled people.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[LiberalFighter]

2. Do they offer small size carts?

Our city has 48 & 96 gallon carts. As a single person I opted for the 48 gallon as best for my situation. It takes me 3 to 4 weeks before the regular garbage needs to go out. Recycle is only picked up bi-weekly. The first 5 months or so I've managed to fill the recyle to the top and not enough room. Just recently, it has been about 3/4 full.

I don't know that having the carts near the porch and using from above is a wise method.

[Pithlet]

3. I wish our city gave us an option for larger sizes.

Our city gives us dinky little bins that fill up very quickly. We do have weekly pick up, though. ETA I realize that my post might seem insensitive given the OP. I hope no one takes it that way. I think what happened is awful.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Prior to this year we were given two bins for recycling.

They were each about 18 or 20 gallons each. Yellow for plastics, metals, and glass. Brown for paper. I always had the yellow bin full every two weeks while the brown was every 4 or 6 weeks. And when I did put out paper products I would have it jammed pack and over the top. The workers had to get out and dump in their truck.

The carts were implemented this year and the city saved about $100k more than expected and will be lowering our garbage fee. More residents are recycling with the new carts too. It helps that all recyclables go into one cart instead of separating. They don't have to get out to dump the trash in the truck. They use a claw like device to pick up the carts and tip it in. Carts need to be spaced out at least 3 feet apart.

[jberryhill]

5. That's awful

I can't imagine what went through his head when he saw her legs sticking out.

I hope I'm never "man finds body" man in a story like this.

In these "unusual death" stories, my heart always goes out to the family members and other who find the victim.

(and remember - railings are there for a reason - use them)