A large kitchen garbage can earns its space by handling frequent meals, crowded recycling, and the occasional crowded recycling without demanding constant attention. Your best option depends on whether you value sorting, touchless operation, simple cleaning, or a smaller footprint.
The six options below cover very different kitchens. Two separate waste streams suit homes that sort every day, while one-touch lids, open-top steel, and four-can sets prioritize speed, durability, or flexible placement. Each selection comes with practical trade-offs so you can choose based on how your household actually handles waste.
The Leading Options At A Glance
simplehuman Step Recycler 90L Dual Compartment Kitchen Trash Can, Brushed Steel
simplehuman Step Recycler 58L Dual Compartment, Plastic Lid, Brushed Steel
Dehouse 13-Gallon Gray Trash Can with Lid, 4-Pack
EKO Eternal 56L Commercial Trash Can, Round Open-Top Steel, Black
Lovewind 70L Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can, Soft-Close, Removable Bucket
Ninestars 13-Gallon Motion-Sensor Stainless Steel Trash Can, Gold
The Details Behind The Selections
Two 45-liter stainless steel cans give this system 90 liters of combined capacity, making it a natural fit for households that separate trash and recycling. The liner rim grips bags directly, so you gain usable space without sorting through removable inner buckets.
A handled recycling bucket makes carrying bottles and cans to the curb less awkward, while the larger format demands more floor space than the simplehuman 58-liter model. For most busy family kitchens, that added room and dedicated sorting make the trade worthwhile.
Where It Delivers
- Two 45-liter compartments handle substantial household waste volume.
- Direct-grip liner rims simplify bag changes and free additional interior space.
- The handled recycling bucket simplifies transport to your outdoor collection bin.
- Built-in liner pockets dispense bags from inside each can.
- Soft-close lid control reduces abrupt movement in a busy kitchen.
Things To Consider
- The side-by-side layout needs a wide wall or counter area.
- Custom-fit liners require the matching liner code for both compartments.
Key Specs
Who It Suits Best
You benefit most from this model in a roomy family kitchen where daily recycling creates enough waste to justify two full-size pedal cans.
Consider Something Else When
The simplehuman Step Recycler 58L Dual Compartment, Plastic Lid, Brushed Steel suits cooks with less floor space who still want separate trash and recycling.
Not every kitchen has room for two 45-liter cans, yet daily sorting still matters. This 58-liter dual-compartment model keeps that routine in a more compact format, with a plastic lid instead of the heavier stainless steel finish used by the larger system.
Its steel pedal, liner rim, liner pocket, and controlled soft-close motion carry over the useful parts of the simplehuman design. You gain a tidier separation system, although the total capacity and floor footprint deserve a quick kitchen measurement.
What Stands Out
- Dual compartments support separate disposal of trash and recyclables.
- Direct-grip liner rims make liner replacement less awkward.
- The built-in liner pocket keeps replacement bags readily available.
- The 58-liter format is more compact than the 90-liter paired system.
Trade Offs
- The plastic lid differs from the brushed steel construction of the larger model.
- Its 58-liter total capacity suits moderate waste volume better than heavy family use.
Feature Snapshot
Made For
You’ll appreciate this model in an apartment, condo, or compact kitchen where sorting is important but generous floor space is not.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
The simplehuman Step Recycler 90L Dual Compartment Kitchen Trash Can, Brushed Steel offers more capacity for a household that produces heavy volumes of trash and recycling.
Four 13-gallon bins let you place waste stations around a home instead of concentrating everything beside the kitchen sink. Each can measures 15.24 by 10.63 by 24 inches and includes a swinging cover, while built-in handles make the empty cans easier to carry.
The plastic construction wipes clean with a damp cloth, which suits a utility room, garage, office, or laundry area. The straightforward design has little of the refinement of the simplehuman models, but it solves placement more flexibly.
Useful Strengths
- Four cans create separate stations throughout a busy home.
- The swing-top cover helps conceal trash between emptying trips.
- Wipe-clean plastic suits kitchens, offices, and utility rooms.
- Built-in handles support carrying each bin to a disposal area.
Points To Note
- Each can measures 15.24 by 10.63 by 24 inches, so four placements need adequate room.
- The swinging cover does not provide the sealed or soft-close behavior of metal-lidded models.
Right Fit For
This set works well for you when you want waste containers in several rooms rather than one large dual-stream station.
Reach For A Different Pick When
The Ninestars 13-Gallon Motion-Sensor Stainless Steel Trash Can, Gold makes more sense for a single touch-free station near your main cooking area.
A wide steel opening removes the need to lift a narrow lid, which matters in restaurant kitchens, coffee shops, hotel lobbies, or busy family utility rooms. The EKO Eternal holds 56 liters and uses heavy-duty black steel for straightforward, high-volume disposal.
The round open top offers a clear line into the bin and leaves the contents visible. That openness speeds disposal in a work area, though it falls short of the concealed, controlled lids offered by the simplehuman and Ninestars options.
Positive Points
- The wide opening supports quick disposal during busy service periods.
- Steel construction suits demanding indoor or outdoor waste areas.
- The 56-liter capacity reduces the frequency of emptying compared with a small room bin.
Softer Spots
- The open top leaves the contents exposed.
- It offers no dedicated trash and recycling compartments.
At A Glance
Built With In Mind
You’ll find this model most practical in a restaurant, workshop, lobby, or garage where fast disposal matters more than a closed lid.
Another Choice May Suit
The Lovewind 70L Stainless Steel Kitchen Trash Can, Soft-Close, Removable Bucket suits a refined home kitchen that needs a closed, larger-capacity bin.
The 70-liter body gives you room for a week’s heavier kitchen waste without demanding a separate recycling section. A removable inner bucket lifts out for transport, while the soft-close lid brings the cover down in a controlled movement.
Pet-resistant construction and four non-slip base pads make this a sensible choice around active households. The embossed stainless steel exterior also gives it a more decorative kitchen presence than the plain plastic Dehouse set, though it still requires meaningful floor space.
Notable Gains
- The 70-liter capacity suits large families with frequent waste output.
- A removable inner bucket makes carrying and emptying easier.
- The soft-close lid avoids a hard slam during daily use.
- Pet-resistant construction and non-slip pads suit active homes.
Minor Gripes
- Its single-compartment design does not separate recycling from trash.
- The large body may crowd a compact kitchen corner.
Who Will Love This
You’ll appreciate the Lovewind model most in a large family kitchen or multipurpose room where one high-capacity, closed bin handles varied waste.
Swap It Out When
The simplehuman Step Recycler 90L Dual Compartment Kitchen Trash Can, Brushed Steel serves you better when sorting trash and recycling is a daily requirement.
A wave of your hand opens and closes the lid, keeping your hands away from food scraps and used packaging. The 50-liter capacity matches the roomy 13-gallon size, so the touchless convenience does not come with a miniature interior.
Delay sensing helps reduce openings triggered by children, pets, or people merely passing by. The 430-grade stainless steel body offers a polished kitchen look, while two D-size batteries, which you must provide, add a maintenance task absent from pedal models.
Good Reasons To Consider
- Motion activation offers hands-free disposal during cooking.
- The 50-liter interior holds a useful amount of kitchen waste.
- Delay sensing reduces unnecessary sensor-triggered openings.
- Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel suits a visible kitchen position.
Practical Considerations
- Two D-size batteries are required and are not included.
- The touchless mechanism adds electronics where the pedal cans use a simpler mechanism.
Technical Highlights
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
You’ll like this bin in a home kitchen, office break area, or other cooking space where quick hands-free disposal outweighs battery maintenance.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
The EKO Eternal 56L Commercial Trash Can, Round Open-Top Steel, Black is more practical for shared work areas that need fast access without electronic controls.
What To Prioritize Before You Buy
Capacity and sorting
Capacity matters only when it matches your real waste volume. Two 45-liter compartments suit active recycling routines, while the 70-liter Lovewind and 56-liter EKO provide more room for mixed waste. Check your available floor area before choosing a larger model.
Lid and operating system
A pedal reduces hand contact without electronics, a motion sensor adds hands-free convenience, and an open top supports rapid disposal in shared spaces. The simplehuman models also offer controlled soft-close lids, while the Dehouse set uses a simpler swinging cover.
Materials and maintenance
Stainless steel suits visible kitchen placement and kitchen cleaning, while plastic keeps the Dehouse set lighter and easy to wipe down. Removable buckets simplify carrying, and battery-powered lids require regular battery replacement.
Practical Decisions That Prevent Regret
Hidden Buying Traps
A large capacity can look efficient until it crowds the cabinet or walkway around your sink. Measure the floor area, open the lid, and check the route to your outdoor collection bin before ordering. A liner system also needs compatible bags, so confirm the required liner code rather than assuming standard bags will fit.
What Separates Premium From Basic
Higher-tier models add features that reduce repeated handling: separate compartments, soft-close motion, built-in liner storage, and controlled opening. Those additions help most in kitchens where you touch the bin dozens of times each day or separate every recyclable. A basic open-top or plastic can remain sensible when speed, placement, and simple cleaning matter more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much capacity does a large kitchen garbage can need?
Most households do not need the largest available can, so start with your weekly waste volume and available floor space. A 50- to 58-liter system suits moderate use, while 70 to 90 liters helps families and busy households reduce emptying trips.
Is a dual-compartment garbage can worth the extra space?
It is worth the footprint when your household sorts trash and recycling every day. The simplehuman 58-liter and 90-liter models keep the streams separate, but a single larger bin is easier to place in a compact kitchen.
Are touchless trash cans easier to use?
They are convenient while cooking because you can dispose of waste without touching the lid. The Ninestars model does require two D-size batteries, which makes it less simple than a pedal-operated can.
Which material is easiest to maintain?
Plastic wipes clean easily and keeps the four-can Dehouse set straightforward to maintain. Stainless steel has a polished appearance and suits kitchen placement, but you should still wipe away moisture and marks as needed.
What size is best for a compact kitchen?
Measure the cabinet, wall, or floor space before ordering, including the room needed to open the lid. The simplehuman 58-liter dual-compartment model offers sorting with a smaller profile, while a single 50-liter or 56-liter bin may fit more easily.
Final Verdict
Your best large kitchen garbage can comes down to routine, not size alone. Choose dual compartments for daily sorting, a motion sensor for hands-free cooking, or an open steel bin for shared work areas. Measure first, then select the system that matches how waste moves through your home.