Best kitchen bin for waste and recycling

With almost 10,000 reviews on Amazon with an average of 4.7 stars out of 5, there's a reason this Amazon Basics Trash Can is on our list. Also available in a variety of sizes to fit every room in your home, the pedal bin with a soft-close lid is ideal for small kitchens. Customers have rated it highly for how easy it is to clean, how sturdy and well-built it is, and that it is good value for a bin that looks more expensive than it is.

By far the most functional of the list, the John Lewis 2 Section Recycling Bin, with Handles, 40L has received high praise from reviews and our tester, Piper. With two removable inner buckets at 20L capacity each, this bin comes with individual pedal mechanisms for each lid, which is user-friendly. The lifts stay open and close softly when you need them - plus, the bin bag stabiliser helps hold liners in place, hassle-free.

Tried & Tested by Yours writer, Piper Huxley:

"Such a great pick for my kitchen. It doesn't take up too much room and opens so easily. The lids are silent, gentle and hopefully won't break like my last double bin. It looks very sleek and fits well in an alcove."

If you're looking for a simple touch bin for one purpose, this John Lewis Touch Bin is exceptional. Said to be easy to use and clean, this bin comes with a soft-close and stay-open lid that will make binning your rubbish a little bit simpler. Plus, with a space-efficient lid and smaller footprint design, it's perfect for smaller spaces. Suitable for use with the JL 40-60L bin bags, this bin is a dream for any kitchen. What are the reviews saying?

Thanks to a handful of reviews, this bin has an average 4.4/5 star rating, with both quality values rated highly.

Taking the vertical bin shape and separating it into two clever compartments, the Joseph Joseph Totem Max Bin is your answer to recycling more efficiently. It has three different compartments for recycling, food waste and general waste, all while keeping it compact and not taking up too much extra space. It also has integrated odour control with replaceable activated carbon filters and removable buckets with liner retaining holes and carrier bag hooks.

With a total capacity of 33L, the Brabantia Bo Touch Bin is for a smaller household looking to keep on top of recycling. It features a soft-touch opening system with a wide lid so it reduces any awkwardness when trying to scrape food or dispose of rubbish. The Bo Touch also comes with legs and adjustable feet to create a secure non-slip base, which means it's a lot higher and doesn't irritate your back when bending over. The room it creates means you can slip a storage basket underneath for bin bags so they're never too far away.

Tried & Tested by Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner:

“Firstly, wow. I don’t think I would have ever considered buying a bin with separate compartments, but the Brabantia Bo Touch has been a total game-changer. The bin, which I chose in the platinum shade (dark grey), is wider than most and I did need to move a few things around to get it in the right place, but since then it’s freed up more space seeing as though I don’t need a separate food caddy or recycling bin.

Of course, it’s entirely up to you what you want to use each compartment for, but this made my kitchen life easier. The touch top is extremely sensitive, so only a light tap to open it and a gentle push to close it is needed. Keep in mind that Brabantia recommends using its branded bin bag for an exact fit, but I’m sure there are other bin bags that will do the job just as well. Overall, I’m very happy and have had several compliments on just how smart it looks.”

The Tower Rose Gold Kitchen Bin with Sensor Lid, 58L was the best, most affordable sensor bin we could find. With the sensor's silent lid mechanism, you can open the bin with a simple wave that closes after five seconds of inactivity. The removable lid is handy for bin liner changes, and if you’re not a fan of the black, it also comes available in white with rose gold detailing at the same low price.

Tried and Tested by Senior Yours writer, Rosie Floyd

With innovative design and technology, the simplehuman Slim Touch S/Steel Kitchen Bin, 40L is another favourite of ours, especially if your kitchen is a little on the small side. We love the touch bar, which is easy to open from any angle. And, if your hands are full, tap with your elbow, bump with your hip or nudge with your knee. It's super convenient. With the lid staying as open as you'd like, it comes with custom-fit liners, a space-efficient hinge and a finger-proof outer- for a spotless and shiny kitchen bin. It's great for small spaces.

With a 4.7/5 star rating on Amazon, the 3,000 reviews love this bin, from the appearance to capacity and ease of cleaning. One customer called it "well-made and lots of attention to deal" - when it comes to the design and performance. Another calls it good-looking and easy to use - with the touch control working perfectly and the bag removal being straightforward. However, some customers have mixed opinions on value.

With three separate compartments for easy separation of waste and recycling, the John Lewis 3 Section Recycling Pedal Bin, 60L is another great choice. Made from stainless steel and a fingerprint-resistant coating, the space-efficient design of this triple pedal bin fits perfectly against a wall. Thanks to the slim stay-open (and soft-close) lid, chucking waste into the bin has never been easier - as is emptying. It's a great choice for operating glass from recycling - if that has to be recycled separately. We love the bin bag stabiliser, too.

A 4.8/5 star average is very impressive. One customer says this is the "perfect fit for a busy kitchen" due to the multiple bin requirements of the modern era. Despite this, it's said to be stylish (yet discreet) and easy to clean, too. With an easy way to add or take away a bin bag for each compartment, it's a winner amongst its customers. Another customer says it was big enough to not need emptying constantly and small enough so it doesn't get stinky. And, felt it was good quality for the price. However, one customer says the "bin bags are a little tricky to tuck down the sides when you're changing the bag", but, is a great bin.

For simplicity, the simplehuman Kitchen Pedal Bin with Soft Close Lid, 45L is ideal for throwing away your trash. With a wide opening and large capacity, it's made to last, boasting a smooth, silent close every time, thanks to the stabiliser bar. Plus, the slide lock helps keep rubbish in and curious kiddies out. Thanks to the strong wide steel pedal, this bin is engineered to last 150,000 steps - that's 20 years worth of opening and closing. Complete with easy liner refills, everything about this pick is effortless. Neat, secure and stylish, the simplehuman bin will be a perfect fit for any kitchen.

From over 250 reviews, this simplehuman pick has earned an exceptional 4.7/5 star rating, with customers praising the quality, appearance, ease of opening and ease of refilling the liners. One reviewer commented that it's "perfect for all kitchen sizes" and is very happy with their purchase. Another loves how easy the liners fit and how sturdy the bin is - it doesn't slide about. However, it's a little slim - and may not be what you want.