Best kitchen bins for recycling, compost and general waste

The unsung hero in the heart of the home

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Whether you’re an enthusiastic home cook or just think of the kitchen as the room with the microwave, no kitchen is complete without a bin.

It may not be the most exciting purchase but it definitely is among the most necessary. Even if on a personal level we’re trying to cut back on waste, it's inevitable that you’ll generate some rubbish. That’s why it’s important to find a waste disposal unit that can meet the needs of your household.

From XL capacities for big families to smart bins that do the elbow grease of composting for you, here are some of the best bins to get for your kitchen right now.

See our favourites below

simplehuman 58L Recycler Bin - Stainless Steel

A robust and high capacity bin that’s perfect for the needs of a busy family, shoppers love the look of simplehuman’s 58-litre unit. No need to fumble around for bin liners, as the design includes a specific pocket for them on the side.

Inside the compartment is split into two, making it easier to divide recyclables from other waste. It streamlines the process and makes it easier to do your bit for the planet.

Buy now£200, Argos

JosephJoseph Totem Waste Bin

JosephJoseph

Bring your kitchen bin into the 21st century with JosephJoseph. Call it a sign of our age or the boredom of lockdown but we’ve never been this excited about a bin. Let us break it down for you.

There are two 30L compartments for your waste and recycling needs that sit compactly and vertically on top of each - but it doesn’t end there. You can further split your rubbish to your heart’s content - plastic, paper, cans - with carrier hooks around the outside of the interior buckets to slot your bags inside. What’s more, there’s a removable food waste caddy for your compostables that can be slotted into the top or bottom bin in any corner. Collect and dispose of your food with ease and with the helpful addition of its own lid to keep the contents away and tidy. It’s the ultimate all-in-one.

The top bin opens with the slight touch of the lever, while the bottom is a simple pull out. Putting a smart twist on the home essential, the top is fitted with a compartment for odour elimination. It is ventilated to encourage the aromas to travel through the activated carbon filter and escape with Airflow technology. Let smelly bins be a thing of the past. Replacement filters are available.

The buckets are removable and complete with breather holes for easy removal. There’s a specially designed custom bin bag available too but it’s not essential.

Functional and stylish, it will fit seamlessly among your interior aesthetic, whether you opt for the stainless steel, the white or the grey.

Buy now£229, Joseph Joseph

simplehuman Dual Compartment Fingerprint Proof Liner Pocket Recycling Bin, 58L, Rose Gold

Is this gleaming rose gold receptacle the waste disposal system of the future? There are two space-efficient compartments to help you sort trash from recycling treasure. There’s a built-in pocket for liners as well as a wide foot pedal to open the bin, which closes using the brand’s “Lid Shox” technology to ensure a smooth, silent close every time - no more wafting bin smells for you! Also available in black and silver finishes.

Comes with a 10-year guarantee.

Buy now£199.95, John Lewis

Easy Shopping 90L 90 Litre Large Galvanised Metal Bin

Amazon

A classic bin, this is a solid design that comes complete with a lid and carry handles attached to the side. With just a single compartment, the bin is easy to clean and there’s a retainer ring to keep the bin bag securely in place.

Buy now£20.99, Amazon

POKER PLUS PATTERN Set 4pz assorted

Take your waste disposal to the next level with this set of four bins, which can each hold 27 litres. You can stack them, set them up in a cube formation or split them for different uses in various rooms.

Buy now£46.99, Amazon

Habitat 30 Litre Domed Pedal bin

Habitat

Available in this chic black hue that will suit any decor, this 30-litre capacity bin comes with a pedal to operate the top so you don’t need to faff around trying to lift the lid when you’re mid-way through cooking. Sleek and stylish.

Buy now£30, Argos

Brabantia 110023 Sort & Go Built-in Waste Bin

If you don’t like the idea of a bin cluttering up your kitchen space, this option allows you to hide them away into cupboards. The set of two 16 litre bins will fit into almost any cupboard thanks to the H46 x W50 x D36cm dimensions and easy installation self supporting mounting frame. Each bin also comes with a strong handle and grip on the base to make emptying easier.

Buy now£91.13, Amazon

Tower 75 Litre Motion Sensor Rubbish Bin

No need to grapple with the lid of this design; simply wave your hand above it and the motion detector will open the bin when objects are within a 5cm - 15cm range. The roomy interior can hold up to 75 litres of waste, making it ideal for couples with kids as well as houseshares and singletons who hate taking the bins out.

If you get fed up with the constant opening and closing which can be distracting if your workstation is in close capacity to the bin, simply switch the sensor-activation off to turn the unit into a manual design.

Buy now£130.39, Wayfair

Brabantia Bo 60 Litre Touch Top Multi-Compartments Rubbish and Recycling Bin

With recycling front and centre in the nation’s priorities, many homes have two receptacles in the kitchen to sort trash - but what if you don’t have the space to accommodate twin bins?

Brabantia’s soft-close design offers a solution with different compartments set inside to sort your waste. It comes set on stable, non-skid legs so you can spot and clean up any potential leaks quickly.

Buy now£200.37, Wayfair

Dunelm 30/30L Recycling Bin

Dunelm

Just because its sole function is to guzzle all your rubbish doesn’t mean it can’t look stylish while it’s doing it. Offering another way to incorporate copper hues into your interiors, this metallic bin has twin compartments, each with room for 30 litres each. The smart-looking design comes with two pedals to operate each compartment independently, containing whiffy smells as well as excess waste.

Also available in a choice of colours.

Buy now£70, Dunelm

Best compost bins for food waste

Joseph Joseph Stack Food Waste Caddy, Grey, 4L, Graphite

If you’re serious about sending as little waste to landfill as possible, this compost caddy is a wise investment. It sports a ventilated design that gets air circulating inside, which helps to cut moisture (buh-bye bin juice) and odours.

Bad smells are also vanquished with the help of a replaceable filter built in to the lid while an easy-clean polypropylene body, flip-up lid and stainless-steel carry handle means cleaning is super simple.

Buy now£32, John Lewis

Brabantia Compost Food Waste Caddy, 1.8L, Mid Grey

So chic no one would guess it’s a bin, this soft grey caddy is designed to sit quietly on the countertop, eating all the food waste that’s left after cooking and meals. It’s composed of ABS plastic and stainless steel, making the caddy durable and fine to clean in the dishwasher.

Buy now£24.25, John Lewis

Addis Compost Caddy - Green and White

There’s no need to ferry food waste back and forth to the bin - messing up your entire kitchen in the process - when you can set this compact 2.5L compost bin right on the countertop.

It helps to break down food waste, while also trapping in odours. Cleaning it is a doddle: not only does this bin come with 20 liners, but the inner bucket is detachable so that you can give it a spruce easily.

Buy now£12, Argos

OXO Compost Bin

You don’t need to make a meal out of leftover scraps - simply scrape food waste into this 2.8L bucket-style bin. Once it’s full, use the handle to empty the bin outside.

Buy now£14.40, Dunelm

Verdict

For look, capacity and function, we’ve awarded simplehuman 58L Recycler Bin the Best crown in our roundup. While it does come in a voice activated version which could prove useful for the elderly and disabled people, this duo-compartment design is ideal for most households. With a solid, stylish design, it’s one to buy now, and never have to worry about it again.