A system for sanitizing and deodorizing garbage chutes using methane sensors in the trash chute that includes an ozone generating unit at the bottom of the trash chute. The system can include an ozone sensor as a safety device to ensure that ozone levels do not surpass a predetermined amount. The present invention works with a controller that controls the ozone generator based on a schedule program for a predetermined time of day. The present invention in an embodiment can include a plurality of additional sensors such as airflow detectors, occupancy detectors and the like.

A blockage clearing system for a multi-story building chute system having a vertical chute spanning multiple floors of a building, refuse doors for each floor and a lower exit, has a controller, a drive motor operably coupled to the controller, a blockage release mechanism driven by the drive motor to travel along an interior of the chute and a detector subsystem which detects an object blocked within the chute. The controller is programmed for retaining the blockage release mechanism in a home position above the refuse doors by default and, when receiving an input from the detector subsystem indicating an object blocked within the chute, operating the drive motor to cause the blockage release mechanism to travel down the chute to force the object down the chute.