I’ve seen multiple references to reminders to put out garbage on specified garbage days, but what I want to do is a bit more involved and will probably require a sensor, but I’m not sure which one. Once I put the garbage bins at the curb, the garbage truck comes by and they collect the garbage. I would like to get a notification once the truck has collected the garbage so I know that I can go out and bring the can in. I’m guessing a tilt sensor would work, but not sure about the range. Any ideas from the community? Thanks in advance!
Little tech info you are giving
I would use a vibration sensor RF433, cheap and long range
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The vibration sensor is something I had thought about, but as I said, I was curious about range. Two questions as I’m unfamiliar with the RF 433 sensor… what does HA need to pickup the signal and can you adjust the sensitivity?
Thanks again!
I’ve been thinking about the exact same need. The best I’ve come up with is a ZWave vibration sensor. Haven’t implemented it yet.
Hence my question on no tech…would be good to know what you have in order to have others propsoe a solution, now you got rf433 and zwave proposed…maybe you only have wifi?
RF433 requires a device, this can be expensive (rfxcom) or you can build one with esphome and possibly there are others .search the forum
RF433 has a huge range although depending on what you put in between antenna and sensor. As an example: my mailbox (outside of the house at start of garden) uses a vibraton sensor and this works fine. The zigbee button next to it required additional routers (plugs) to get connected to the house. Both the rf433 antenna and zigbee dongle are next to one another wrt to distance.
On the use, the rf433 is a fire and forget, it does not communicate state, only that ‘something moved’
I resolve this by resetting the state each time I receive a signal and using a helper to register ‘movemenet’ In case of a garbage bin I would do the same and have an automation if multiple movements follow within (say) 1 minute, indicating the bin is being handled.
Maybe your bin is handled within 10m from a wifi AP and then you can try a wifi sensor…no clue as not provided 
RF433 sensors are very cheap so although not technically advanced, worth looking into if you want more…for 1 sensor buying a rfxcom of ?100usd ? is not worth imo
For me WiFi, ZWave or Zigbee would work considering that my can is placed well within their range. Problem is finding a sensor. Most vibration sensors are multi sensors, which is overkill for this and not rated for outdoors.
Sorry for not listing tech. I have Hubitat which is Zigbee and Z Wave and Aqara which I guess is Zigbee, and Wifi stuff currently installed. I’m kind of all over the place, but I got into Home Assistant after trying different things.
I agree about a lot of the sensors being overkill and I thought about possibly using a Zigbee sensor since they seem to be the least expensive, but am not sure of range and don’t want to spend a lot of $$.
Regarding RF, I’ve been thinking of buying the Broadlink RM4 for another project that needs IR. It handles RF433 as well so it is an option. If it were just for this, I wouldn’t be willing to spend the $50 on the RM4, but if I spread the cost across two projects, the wife might say yes. 
What is the max distance between (future)antenna/dongle and your bin ? Any materials in-between decreasing the signal?
It occurred to me that a door open sensor would do the job as well. Instead of detecting the can vibration, simply check for the status of the lid within the collection timeframe.