A kitchen bin may seem like one of the most basic household staples that we hardly give it any thought. But actually, it does perform an important function in your kitchen, which means it is highly visible. Hence, you would want it to be efficient, hygienic, and quite importantly, aesthetically appealing.
In this article, we will give you some basic guiding principles to consider when buying a kitchen bin. Then we give you our top recommendations for the best kitchen bin in the UK.
Here’s a quick view of our top three:
Table of Contents
What to Consider When Buying a Kitchen Bin
Size
The size of the kitchen in you’re buying is primarily dependent on three things: the number of household members that share it; the frequency of it being taken out; and the amount of rubbish generated. The size is usually measured in terms of the volume of its capacity. A bin with a capacity of 15 to 30 litres is okay for those that live alone or a couple that doesn’t generate too much rubbish. If you are a family of three and you are certain that you can take out your bin on a regular basis, you will be fine with a 30 to 40-litre bin. For families of four or those who don’t get to take out their bin regularly, a 40 to 50-litre bin is recommended.
Shape
Your kitchen bin’s shape is more important than you think. Commonly, a kitchen bin is either rectangular or round. A rectangular one can easily be tucked in your kitchen’s corners, hence maximising space. Round ones are ideal if you plan to place them in an open area or a large space.
Material
There are three main materials that your kitchen bin can be made of: concrete, metal, and plastic. When deciding which one to get, it’s important to think about what kind of home you have, the kind of rubbish you dispose of, and who the users mainly are. It’s also important to think about the major properties of each material. Plastics are lighter and are ideal for medium to heavy use. Metal bins, on the other hand, are generally safer since they are fire resistant and have a cleaner, more stylish appearance. Concrete bins are for heavier use, but keep in mind that they are not as mobile.
Features
These days, there are a lot of modern features that a kitchen bin may have. For sanitary purposes, hands-free kitchen bins are usually preferred. They can either be the usual step-on bins, or the more sophisticated motion-sensitive ones. Kitchen bins can also be made mobile with wheels, which are ideal for large kitchens. These days, many bins have multiple compartments which help segregate rubbish between recyclable and non-recyclable wastes, or even more categories. Again, this all depends on your use of the bin. You wouldn’t want to spend on an overly expensive kitchen bin with tempting features you will end up never using.
Best Kitchen Bins UK
1home 50L Stainless Steel Automatic Auto Sensor Touchless Chrome Waste Dust Bin
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This is one of the more innovative kitchen bins on this list. With its infrared-activated lid with soft close mechanism, you no longer have to touch the bin to open and close it gently, which makes it very hygienic and noise-free. This touch-free mechanism has a manual override too to keep it open while emptying the bin or cleaning it. It has a total capacity of 50 litres which makes it ideal for kitchens of families with about four to five members. The bin is made of stainless steel which makes it fingerprint-free and durable, not to mention the smart and sleek finish it gives the kitchen bin. You can also be sure that you’ll be able to keep the bin bag in place with the detachable ring installed on the bin.
Pros
- Completely touch-free with its infrared-activated lid with soft-close mechanism
- Large capacity of 50 litres ideal for bigger kitchens
Cons
- None reported
Simplehuman 45 litre rectangular pedal bin with liner pocket
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One of the more sophisticated kitchen bins featured on this list, this stainless steel kitchen bin is available in 45-litre and 55-litre capacities. It has a built-in liner dispenser which can be reached right inside the bin. The liner rim flips up for when you need to change the liner, and then closes over the liner and keeps it neatly hidden from sight. Simplehuman even has a patented lid Shox technology which slows down the motion of the lid so that it closes silently. The steel pedal is proven to last 150,000 steps, equivalent to 20 steps a day for 20 years.
Pros
- Stainless steel material means neater look and better durability
- Modern features like liner pocket, silent close lid, and internal hinge
Cons
- None reported
Cotswold Collection Kitchen Waste Bin With Drawer Shaker Style Wooden Lid
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With its 33-litre capacity, this kitchen bin is ideal for those living alone, or for couples whose rubbish is within the usual average. Its wooden construction and country style design are perfect for a cottage-themed household. It has a manual lid and a bottom drawer for keeping bin liners. It also comes with a pinewood trim which is removable, to be used for securing the liners.
Pros
- Aesthetically appealing with its wooden construction, pastel colours, and a country motif
Cons
- Pinewood trim may be quite loose and easily wears off
Brabantia Bo Touch Bin with Plastic Buckets
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It’s amazing how much this kitchen bin can actually do. It operates silently with its secure lid which opens at the slightest touch. When buying, you can opt for a single inner bucket, a dual bucket, or a triple bucket system, depending on your waste segregation preferences. Unlike most kitchen bins, you don’t have to bend down just to dispose of your waste given this kitchen bin’s perfect height. The materials used in manufacturing this kitchen bin meet environmental standards, so there is no guilt in buying this product.
Pros
- Silent operation with Barbantia’s iconic soft-touch mechanism
- Aids waste segregation with multiple bucket options
- No bend needed when disposing of waste with its perfect height
Cons
- None reported
Mari Life – Stainless Steel Recycling Bin
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Everyone wants a kitchen bin with a larger capacity, but we wouldn’t want it to take up too much space. This kitchen bin is the solution to that. It has a vertical design which makes it easy to fit in your kitchen without taking up too much space but has a decent capacity at 34 litres. The foot pedal and the latch button ensure that you can use the kitchen bin while maintaining good hygiene. The bin buckets can easily be removed for cleaning and replacement of bin liners. Additionally, the bin is fingerprint-proof which makes it harder to get dirty. The multiple compartments that bin is designed to make it easy to separate waste from recyclables. Lastly, this kitchen bin sports a sleek, modern look while being sturdy with its steel housing and brushed metal finish.
Pros
- Big capacity with a vertical shape and straight sides making it easy to fit in the kitchen
- Hygienic and makes recycling easy
- Sleek, modern look and sturdy steel housing and metal finish
Cons
- Sometimes the lids don’t close properly with the liners on
VonHaus Recycling Pedal Bin for Kitchen Waste
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This is one of the more efficient ways to make sure you’re on top of your recycling game. It has a very sleek vertical design that makes it easy to save space in the kitchen. Instead of having multiple bins for each type of waste, this 34-litre capacity kitchen bin has a dual-compartment system for easy separation of the recyclables. This kitchen bin is extremely hygienic too. The lower compartment can be accessed with the pedal, whilst the upper compartment can be opened with the push button. The bins in both compartments can easily be removed to be emptied regularly. The main material is stainless steel which gives the bin a robust construction. It also features side handles for the bin to be transported easily. Lastly, the kitchen bin’s exteriors can easily be cleaned with a quick wipe.
Pros
- An efficient space-saving recycling solution with its vertical design and dual compartment for easy segregation instead of multiple bins
- Hygienic mechanism – lower compartment is accessible with the pedal and upper compartment can be opened with a push button, both with a handle
Cons
- Some users have reported that the flip-top can be quite flimsy
LIVIVO Stylish 50L Litre Stainless Steel Recycling Bin Pedal Waste Trash Rubbish Glass
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This option is what we would recommend to a family of about 4 to 5 members, with its total capacity of 50 litres. The bin has inner buckets which make the compartments pretty easy to empty; no need to worry about any possible spillage.
Quite importantly too, these bins are of sturdier and stronger construction and are not easily vulnerable to knocks, scrapes, and dents. The lids fit very well too, which ensures that the bin does not produce any unpleasant odour that could ruin your kitchen.
Every compartment has an individual pedal so that it can be opened separately without the need to touch it, hence completing the hygienic experience of using the bin.
Pros
- Ideal option for bigger families (4 to 5) with the bin’s total capacity of 50 litres.
- Very easy to empty
- Each compartment can be accessed separately with the foot pedals
Cons
- None
Joseph Joseph Intelligent Waste Titan Trash Compactor
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The biggest selling point of this kitchen bin is its patented compaction system which allows the bin to have a capacity three times the usual bin of the same size. The compaction system lets you take your trash out less often. In addition, this kitchen bin has an integrated odour system that contains an activated carbon filter to neutralise the odour. The fingerprint-free stainless steel material gives the bin a smarter finish and an easy to clean exterior. The bin liners can easily be changed too whilst ensuring that lids stay firmly closed. The bin has a hands-free opening courtesy of its foot pedal system.
Pros
- Compaction system gives the bin three times more capacity than other bins of the same size, letting you take out the trash less often
- Very hygienic – the integrated odour control system has an activated carbon filter that neutralises odour; foot pedal lets you open the kitchen bin hands-free
Cons
- None
Morphy Richards Chroma Square Sensor Bin with Infrared Technology
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This is another infrared-activated option. As your hand approaches the bin, the system gets activated and the lid opens automatically. For accidental motions, the lid automatically closes after five seconds of inactivity. The bin is made of non-corrosive stainless steel and plastic lid which makes it easy to clean. It also has a retaining ring built in so that the bin bag is kept in place. Another selling feature of this kitchen bin is its contemporary design. The square shape and vertical orientation make the bin easy to keep under kitchen work surfaces and does not aesthetically ruin the rest of your kitchen.
Pros
- Infrared-activated lid
- Made of non-corrosive stainless steel and plastic lid, making the kitchen bin easy to wipe clean
Cons
- None reported