Trash receptacle

A method for automatically sealing and depositing a garbage bag using a trash receptacle, comprising:

• positioning a garbage bag into a trash receptacle having a primary body portion with a top defining an aperture and a hollow interior area;
• looping opposed drawstrings of the garbage bag over a pair of handle members extending laterally from the top of the primary body portion;
• extending a body portion of the garbage bag through the aperture into the hollow interior area;
• securing an upper portion of the garbage bag to an exterior surface of the top using an elastic band removably coupled to a peripheral edge of the top;
• filling the garbage bag with refuse until a predetermined weight is reached;
• releasing the garbage bag from the elastic band as a result of the weight of the refuse;
• allowing the garbage bag to fall via gravity onto a drip tray positioned adjacent an open bottom of the primary body portion;
• and
• automatically drawing the drawstrings closed during the fall, thereby enclosing the body portion of the garbage bag.

A trash receptacle for securing and closing a garbage bag, comprising:

• a primary body portion having an inverted conical configuration and defining a hollow interior area, a top with an aperture, and an open bottom;
• a drip tray disposed below the open bottom and configured to collect liquid from the garbage bag;
• a pair of handle members mounted at the top and configured to receive opposed drawstrings of the garbage bag;
• and
• an elastic band removably mounted to the top and configured to retain the garbage bag at the top until a predetermined threshold of weight is exceeded, whereby the garbage bag is released and falls onto the drip tray, thereby engaging and closing the drawstrings.