Getting the right bin for your kitchen used to be simple, but in these days of colour-coded kitchens and multiple bin collections, it’s not always easy to find a kitchen bin that’ll satisfy both your style and your recycling requirements. So, whether you’re looking for a bin that’s big enough to swallow a large household’s refuse, or a stylish, slimline, multi-compartment option for keeping your paper and your plastics in check, we’ve gone and found the perfect bin for you.
Obviously, aesthetics are just part of the picture. Nobody likes muck infested hinges or bins so small that the bin liner is constantly overflowing. And don’t even get us started on the touch bins that you practically have to whack to open or swing bins whose lids stay permanently sticky – we’ve left more than our fair share of those on the scrap heap.
Read on, and we’ll run you through the features you should look out for, followed by our pick of the best bins to buy for modern living.
How to choose the best bin for your kitchen
How important is size?
Very. If you’re a family of four or more, choose the largest capacity bin you can fit in your kitchen, ideally 30-40 litres, possibly more. If there are fewer people in your household, or you have a smaller kitchen or flat, a 20-30 litre bin should suffice. Bottom line is you don’t want to have to empty it too often, but nor do you want the rubbish to sit there so long that it starts to smell.
Also consider the footprint. Some of today’s bins take up a serious amount of floor space. If you’ve got the room, that can be no bad thing as some make for a statement feature in their own right. But people who are tighter on space may prefer slimmer, taller bins that they can squeeze into smaller nooks, crannies and corners of the kitchen.
What about recycling?
Recycling now means that a single bin simply won’t suffice. Dual or even multi-compartment bins can offer a seamless solution if you live in an area where you need to separate your non-recyclables, compostables and even paper and cans from your plastics and glass. And if you need more storage space than one multi-compartment bin can muster (which will almost certainly be the case for bigger famlilies), then you can always consider using a pair of slimline bins side by side.
What features make for the most hygienic bin?
If possible, choose a bin with a removable plastic inner compartment that makes it easier to pull the full bin liner out without it splitting. If you can’t stand nasty odours, consider a bin with a charcoal filter. If you’re looking at bins in your local department store, then you can check first hand to see whether the bin can be cleaned easily – stainless steel and plastic are easy to wipe, but keep an eye out for hard-to-reach spots, such as unnecessarily complicated joins and hinges where gunk can collect and fester.
What types of bin are there?
There are four main types of kitchen bin to look out for:
Pedal bin
Pros– Keeps both hands free; many different types available
Cons– Potential for lifting mechanism to go wrong; food can get stuck in hinges
Dustbin style
Pros– Looks good in any style kitchen; easy to clean; often purse friendly
Cons– You need a free hand to lift the lid off every time; the bin liner shows
Touch bin
Pros– Quick and easy to open and close; many different types available
Cons - Potential for lifting mechanism to go wrong; food can get stuck in hinges
Swing bin
Pros– Easy to use; keeps both hands free; purse friendly
Cons– Lid can get dirty and/or sticky easily; lid doesn’t always close properly
The best kitchen bins to buy
1. Brabantia Bo Touch Bin: The best bin for seriously stylish kitchens
Price: From £149 –Buy now from John Lewis
We absolutely love this new design-led offering from one of the best-known brands in the business. A bin that looks like anything but a bin, it’s almost certainly the only one you’ll have seen with legs, let alone elegant legs – and there are no less than eight colours to choose from, including two textured editions in the luxury range. And because it’s fingerprint-proof, you’ve no need to worry about it getting mucky. But how does it perform practically? Well, it comes in one, two or three compartment versions – a boon for versatility - and we found the soft touch closure works a treat, while the 36 litre capacity of the single compartment version is ideal for families of three to five people. You’ll be tied to Brabantia’s own PerfectFit binbags, though, and make no mistake, this bin is a beast in terms of size.
Key specs – Capacity: 34 litres; Dimensions (WDH): 54 x 31.5 x 68cm; Colours: Black, yellow, steel, gold, white, red, platinum, burgundy; Warranty: 10 years
2. Lakeland Slimline Kitchen Waste Pedal Bin: The best slimline bin
Price:£72 – Buy now from Lakeland
You can slide this sleek, shiny bin neatly into the slimmest of spaces, which makes it great not only for smaller kitchens, but those with hidden nooks and crannies. Yet the 20 litre capacity means you can fill the equivalent of half a black binbag, which could be as much as a few days’ worth of rubbish for a one or two person household. It works with a foot pedal, which frees up both hands and the lift-out inner makes emptying the bin a doddle. Do not, however, be tempted to overfill it or you’ll start running into problems with the lifting mechanism, which is otherwise works smoothly and is built to last.
Key specs – Capacity: 20 litres; Dimensions (WDH): 20 x 37.5 x 61cm; Colours: Stainless steel; Warranty: 3 years
3. Joseph Joseph Titan Trash Compactor: The best compactor bin
Price:£200 – Buy now from Lakeland
An awesome invention for people who don’t want to spend half their lives cursing that it’s time to take out the trash again, this innovative bin works by you tapping on the foot pedal to lift the lid, chucking in your rubbish, then turning the stainless steel handle and pushing down. Hey presto, it compacts your refuse to such an extent that you can fit three times as much in one bin liner – and because it’s all sealed, with replaceable charcoal filter, you won’t get any nasties spilling out or bad smells wafting into the kitchen. We like the finger-print resistant finish too. Not the cheapest bin on the market, but one with hidden talents.
Key specs – Capacity: 30 litres; Dimensions (WDH): 38.5cm x 34.5 x 69cm; Colour: Stainless steel; Warranty: 10 years
4. Addis Black Lift Top 48 Litre Bin: The best cheap kitchen bin
Price: From £9.50 – Buy now from Dunelm
This cheap-as-chips flip-top plastic bin is a fabulous no-frills budget-buy. And while it might look like a zillion other ones like it on the market, it’s almost certainly sturdier thanks to the patented foot plate that keeps the bin in place while you’re disposing of your rubbish. This lid stays up when you need it to and there are two lugs at the front of it which you can engage with the base to stop the lid slipping off. If you’re after a simple, straightforward and purse-friendly rubbish point, look no further, although be warned that the grey one will (bizarrely) cost you an extra 50p.
Key specs – Capacity: 48 litres; Dimensions (WDH): 38 x 34 x 59cm; Colours: Black, grey, cream; Warranty: None
5. Habitat Alto 32 Litre Kitchen Bin: The best bin for industrial style
Price:£35 – Buy now from Argos
What you see is what you get with this traditional, dustbin-style bin – you lift the lid, pop in your bin liner and away you go filling it up. The industrial style is softened by the cream, red or yellow finish and this clever combo means it works in any style kitchen. It’s priced reasonably, making it an affordable option for most and it’s easy to keep clean, as well as being very sturdy – great for if you have young kids or pets. But it’s not for those who want both hands freed up when tipping their trash into the bin or for anyone who minds the edges of the binbag being on show.
Key specs – Capacity: 32 litres; Dimensions (WH): 33 x 55cm; Colours: Cream, red, yellow; Warranty: 1 year
6. John Lewis 2 Section Recycling Bin: The best recycling bin
Price:£85 – Buy now from John Lewis
Say goodbye to going back and forth with small bags of rubbish and recycling. With this stainless steel bin, you essentially get two for the price of one thanks to the two compartments which can be operated and emptied independently with separate pedals. Making recycling a cinch, it looks good and is easy to empty thanks to the plastic inners. It’s by no means the only multi-compartment bin on the market – with some boasting three or even four sections - but we think it provides the best value for money if you’re happy with two. It’s on the big side, though.
Key specs – Capacity: 31 litres; Dimensions (WDH): 46 x 37.5 x 70.5cm; Colours: Stainless steel; Warranty: 2 years