Waste receptacles and lift rod assemblies therefor

A waste receptacle, comprising:

• an enclosure comprising an enclosed base portion and at least one sidewall extending from the base portion, the at least one sidewall defining an open top portion to receive waste material therethrough;
• a lid hingedly coupled to the enclosure;
• a pedal pivotably coupled to the base portion, the pedal being pivotable from a first position to a second position upon application of a minimum required force to the pedal by a user;
• and
• an elongated lift rod assembly comprising:
• a first end coupled to the pedal and a distal second end coupled to the lid such that when the pedal is in the first position, the lid is disposed in a closed position abutting the open top portion of the base portion, and, when the pedal is in the second position, the lid is disposed at a predetermined maximum pedal-adjusted angle;
• an elongated lift rod at least partially comprising a tubular chamber;
• a compression spring configured to dampen a force in excess of a predetermined force threshold applied to the pedal by the user and transferred to the elongated lift rod assembly, the compression spring being disposed within the tubular chamber and comprising a first end and a distal second end;
• and
• a stub lift rod comprising a first end abutting the second end of the compression spring within the tubular chamber.