Chutes convey material from the upper floors in a building to the collection room at the bottom. The different types of chutes are trash, recycle, and linen. All types of chutes are made and work the same way. It is the material they convey which makes them a specific type.

Chutes are in common use in tall buildings to allow the rapid transport of items from the upper floors to a central location on one of the lower floors or basement. Chutes may be round, square or rectangular at the top and/or the bottom.