Stahlfred 5 boxes with a planted roof in anthracite: five labeled 240-liter compartments at the entrance

Five bins at the entrance: the Stahlfred 5 boxes with a planted roof in Anthracite

This arrangement shows five Stahlfred modules in a closed row along the house wall, beside a paved path leading to a double entrance door. Each of the five doors has a label for its waste category: residual waste, paper, organic waste, yellow recycling, and residual waste again. The planted roof on top is covered with light decorative gravel and planted with low-growing ground cover. In the back half, planters in a dark concrete look hold a small fig tree, shrubs with reddish new growth, delicate white flowers, and ornamental alliums. The garbage bin box becomes a long, two-tiered flower bed right next to the entrance.

You can identify the five bin compartments by their labeled doors with handle strips. On the far right, another compartment with a lever handle is attached; its design differs from the five bin compartments.

You can find all the details about this configuration on the product page for the Stahlfred garbage bin box 5 boxes. If you’re mainly interested in the green roof, the overview of garbage bin boxes with a planted roof is the right place to start.

Who would benefit from a garbage bin box for 5 bins with a planted roof?

You need five spaces when several waste categories are kept separate on the property long-term, or when two households share the same space. A planted roof is especially worthwhile where the box is in plain sight rather than at the back of the garden, such as by the entrance or driveway.

Typical uses:

• Single-family homes with full waste separation
• Semi-detached or two-household homes with a shared collection area
• Entrance areas where the bins would otherwise be the first thing you notice
• Narrow, long areas along a façade, as shown in the customer photos
• Properties without space for a separate flower bed

Contents, as shown in the photos:

• Residual waste
• Paper
• Organic waste
• Yellow recycling bag or yellow bin
• A second residual waste bin

You can find all models in this size among the 5-box garbage bin boxes.

Anthracite steel sheet: material and how it differs from Holzmichl

Stahlfred is made of hot-dip galvanized steel sheet with a powder coating. It is weatherproof, corrosion-resistant, and low-maintenance; you don’t need to paint it. However, you should still clean the door hinges and magnets regularly. How to do this is explained in the care instructions. The surface is Anthracite RAL 7016 with a matte powder coating, exactly the shade shown in these photos.

What makes the Stahlfred stand out in the entrance area:

• solid steel doors with no wood inserts
• fully enclosed housing with an open bottom
• a calm, smooth front that blends in beside dark doors and fences
• easy-care surface that needs no painting

In the photos, everything looks especially harmonious: the entrance door, roller shutters and fence are also dark, and the box picks up this tone, forming a calm block in front of the light-colored plaster facade. This gives the greenery on top a clear frame.

If you’d prefer the same setup with a wood front, the Holzmichl 5-box garbage bin box is the alternative. It also has a steel housing, but the doors feature a spruce wood insert. The Stahlfred, by contrast, is all metal. You can find an overview of all steel models in our metal garbage bin boxes.

Planter roof and planters: how the roof is designed

The planter roof has a flat planting tray on top of the box instead of a sloped lid. The Stahlfred 5 boxes is 125.5 cm tall with the planter roof, compared with 122 cm with a lid.

In the customer photos, the roof is arranged on two levels. At the front is a low layer of decorative gravel with rounded cushion plants and light-green patterned ground cover. Behind these are square planters with taller plants. Viewed from the front, this creates a transition from low to high that looks like a raised bed in front of the facade.

What you can take inspiration from in this design:

• low-growing, drought-tolerant cushion plants in the front row
• decorative gravel as a cover that conceals the substrate and looks neat
• place taller plants at the back so the tiered effect looks good from the front
• match the color of the planters and planting tray to the box

The product page doesn’t specify how much extra weight the planter roof can support. If you’d like to place heavy planters on it, as shown here, check with the BIO Stefan team first. Also note: the planter roof is decorative greenery in a flat tray, not a standard-compliant green roof system. Read our tips for planting on garbage bin boxes.

Access, labeling and lock for everyday use

With the planter roof option, access is through the front doors. Open the door and remove the bin using the tipping mechanism. Each door has a continuous handle strip at the top, with the lock set into the frame above it.

Practical for everyday use:

• Doors can be hinged on either the left or right
• Lockable with a central lock; key lock included
• Suitable for 90-, 120- and 240-liter bins
• Compartments clearly labeled so everyone in the household picks the right bin

The signs in the photos are the magnetic signs for BIO Stefan trash bin boxes. According to the product page, they are suitable for Stahlfred, adhere to the steel sheet door and can be removed again in one simple step. They are available for general waste, paper, organic waste and recycling, among others - exactly the categories in this setup.

There is one point to keep in mind with this combination: when using a planter roof with 240-liter bins, the tipping mechanism may not work properly with some bin models, especially bins with non-standard dimensions. So check your bins' measurements before ordering.

Space and ground for five 240-liter bins

The Stahlfred 5 boxes for 240-liter bins is 370 cm wide and 80 cm deep. With the planter roof, it is 125.5 cm tall. Each compartment offers 64 cm of width, 77 cm of depth and 112.5 cm of height. According to the product page, the 5 boxes set weighs 204 kg, excluding the planter roof.

You also need clearance in front:

• the door panel is 63.5 cm wide
• with the door open at 90 degrees, the box is 144.5 cm deep
• there also needs to be room to pull the bin out forwards

The photos show a good solution: the paved path in front of the box is wider than the open door, while the path to the front door remains clear.

For the ground:

• concrete slabs or paved surfaces are ideal, as shown here
• soil, crushed stone or gravel are not recommended
• height-adjustable feet compensate for unevenness of 15 to 60 mm
• an adjustable floor rail and pre-drilled holes in the base rails allow the box to be anchored to the ground

A slight slope is no problem. If the feet's adjustment range is not sufficient according to the product page, set up several individual modules in a stepped arrangement instead of one continuous 5 boxes unit, for example several Stahlfred 1 box.

In summary: five bins, one planter, a tidy entrance

The Stahlfred 5 boxes for 240-liter bins in anthracite with a planter roof provides five labeled bin compartments and a planting area in one row. At the entrance, it replaces two things at once: the bin storage and the planter. If you're looking for a lockable solution for five large steel bins and the box will be in view, this combination is a great fit.

You can find more sizes and models in the overview of high-quality garbage bin boxes for 120 l and 240 l bins; all boxes for large containers are listed under 240-liter garbage bin boxes .

Frequently asked questions about the Stahlfred 5 boxes with a planter roof

How much space does a garbage bin box for five 240-liter bins need?

The Stahlfred 5 boxes for 240-liter bins is 370 cm wide and 80 cm deep. With the planter roof, it is 125.5 cm high; with the lid, it is 122 cm high. With the door open at 90 degrees, you need 144.5 cm of depth, plus some extra room to pull out the bin.

How do you access the bins in the box with a planter roof?

Through the front doors. Open the door and pull the bin out using the tilting mechanism. When used with a planter roof and 240-liter bins, the tilting mechanism may work only partially, depending on the bin model, so it's worth checking your bins' dimensions.

Can I put planters on the planter roof?

That's exactly what's shown in these photos. However, the product page doesn't specify how much additional weight the planter roof can support. So check with the BIO Stefan team before placing heavy planters on it.

Is the planter roof a green roof?

No. The planter roof is decorative planting in a shallow tray, not a green roof system built to standard. It makes the box look like a flower bed, but the climate benefits are significantly lower than those of a true green roof because of the limited area and substrate depth.

How do I label the compartments for waste separation?

With BIO Stefan's magnetic labels. According to the product page, they're compatible with Stahlfred, attach to the sheet steel door, and can be removed at any time. They are available for general waste, paper, organic waste, and recycling, among others.

What is the difference between the Stahlfred 5 boxes and the Holzmichl 5 boxes?

Both have a housing made of hot-dip galvanized, powder-coated steel. The Stahlfred has solid steel doors, while the Holzmichl has a spruce wood insert in the doors. Both are available with a planter roof.

Does the garbage bin box need to be anchored to the ground?

Not necessarily. According to the product page, the Stahlfred stands securely even without extensive anchoring. For a firm hold, it can be anchored to the ground using the adjustable base rail and pre-drilled holes in the bottom rails.

Can the 5 boxes be expanded later?

Yes. The boxes have a modular design, so you can add more Stahlfred modules and extend the row.