University of Washington students take a step toward business / Their device allows hands-free garbage disposal

Last April, Scott King wanted to spring an idea on his friend Justin Taber, but not until the two had driven to a fast-food restaurant in Ballard for hamburgers and fries.

Sitting near garbage cans, the University of Washington students noticed a person using a crumpled paper bag to pry open a trash receptacle door. Another person jiggled a plastic food tray into the receptacle door.

Taber, a 23-year-old engineering student, thought that everything was normal. After all, people typically avoid touching grease-smeared garbage cans.

But King spotted an opportunity. "What if you put a step there to open the can?" he asked.

These days, King, Taber and some University of Washington classmates are in the process of forming a company with the goal of selling a foot-controlled step device to open fast-food garbage cans. They have elected officers and spent $500 on research.

By BRAD WONG
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Full Story: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/216137_sanifits16.html