Waste-collecting container

A waste-collecting container for compostable waste, comprising an open top container housing and an upper lid therefor, said open top container housing having means defining an upstanding wall and a bottom wall connected to said upstanding wall, grate means separating a bottom space in the region of said bottom wall from an upper interior space inside of said container housing, said bottom space being adapted to receive any liquid that may be container in the waste, said grate means comprising a fork-like grate which includes a plurality of spaced and generally parallel tines all connected together only adjacent their respective common ends, and pivot means for pivotally securing said grate means to said upstanding wall at a location adjacent said common ends of said plural tines and for movement between a first position wherein said tines are generally parallel to said bottom wall for separating said bottom space from said upper interior space and a second position wherein said tines becomes oriented generally parallel to said upstanding wall, said free ends of said tines, when said grate means is in said second position, being closer to said open top of said container housing than when said grate means is in said first position thereof so that when said waste-collecting container is upended for purposes of dumping collected compostable waste, said grate means will pivot to said second position to enable said compostable waste to slide freely off said tines, past said free ends thereof.