Smart high-tech sensor bins are fast becoming a popular addition to our kitchen spaces, boasting voice activation and motion sensors to help you tackle your household’s waste disposal without lifting a finger.
These models, of course, come with a higher price tag to reflect the technology and smart design involved to make life easy, but once you have one in your home these clever features will prove their money’s worth, with the smart bin soon becoming the item you never knew you needed.
Read on to discover the best kitchen bin for you, tested by yourhomestyle.uk reviews expert, Lara Berry, senior digital editor, Cinead McTernan, HomeStyle editor Kirstie Duhig and HomeStyle deputy art editor Olivia Watkins.
And, when you're done, why not check out our guide to stylish food waste caddies to complete your waste storage makeover, and for a bigger eco switch-up, take a look at our guide to making your kitchen more sustainable as well.
Tried and tested | Best kitchen bins at a glance:
- Best value smart bin | EKO Himalayn sensor bin (RRP £239.99) | View availability
- HOMCOM 50 litre infrared automatic motion sensor dustbin (RRP £72.99) | View availability
- Tower 58 litre sensor bin (RRP £94.99) | View availability
- Simplehuman voice activated bin (RRP £269.95) | View availability
- Amazon Basics automatic hands-free stainless steel 50L trash can (RRP £54.71) | View availability
- Brabantia Bo Touch 11-23 litre bin (RRP £210) | View availability
- Joseph Joseph Totem 40L (RRP £155) | View availability
- Joseph Joseph intelligent waste Titan trash compactor (RRP £79.99) | View availability
How we tested the bins
We considered everything from packaging and how clear instructions were to follow, to finishes available and their performance against description, as well as value for money. Here’s how we scored them…
Easy to use? (6 points): Clear instructions | Power options: batteries or mains operated | Capacity
Features (6 points): Material - sustainable? Easy to clean? | Single or dual compartments | Odour filters? | Display modes - stay open or close? | Design
Results (6 points): Time it takes to open and close | Sensor efficiency | Does what it claims to do?
Value for money (2 points): Price | Warranty | Quality
The best smart bins for 2024
EKO Himalaya sensor bin
Score 19 out of 20
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Generous capacity so less frequent emptying
- Useful combo for recycling and waste needs
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Occasionally doesn't close
While this is one of the most expensive bins on test, it's stylish, well-made and has a high-quality finish, with the added benefit of the motion sensor and plenty of space for waste and recycling.
This required little set up, other than putting in batteries to activate the motion sensor, automatic open and close lid on the top compartment. Super responsive, the lid reliably opened over the testing period, though on occasion stayed open. I wasn't sure if this was part of the touch open and close function, which is useful if you need the lid to stay open for longer periods, but would be a pain if the bin was a bit smelly and you hadn't realised it hadn't closed properly.
Thanks to its brushed stainless steel and fingerprint-resistant finish it was easy to wipe clean to keep it looking in tip top condition. The inner buckets can be cleaned with warm, soapy water.
I liked that this bin is tall, elegant and yet highly practical with two generously-sized compartments. Both feature removeable bins, which are colour coded, and provide a combined capacity of 60L. The top compartment, which is 35L has a removable frame to keep the bin liner in place, and has a built-in deodoriser, while the bottom compartment, which is 25L, operates with a peddle as well as a handle, and we found it was great for recycling.
While this is one of the most expensive bins on test, it's stylish, well-made and has a high-quality finish, with the added benefit of the motion sensor and plenty of space for waste and recycling. It also comes with 3 years warranty - one of the longest on test.
Dimensions: H80.2 x W41.5 x D31.3cm
For more kitchen essentials, browse our roundup of the best kitchen extractor fans.
HOMCOM 50 litre infrared automatic motion sensor bin
Score 19 out of 20
Pros:
- Hygienic and time-saving
- Big capacity for a small footprint
- Mid-range price
Cons:
- We would have preferred a stainless steel or black plastic lid as we felt that the silver coating could chip or scratch over time
Tall and slimline with a roomy 50L capacity, this modern-looking bin is designed to slot into even a small kitchen and is plenty large enough for a family of 4-5.
Pop in 4 x AA batteries (not included), flip the switch on the back of the lid and this bin is ready to go. The motion sensor is excellent and extremely quick, wave a hand 20-25cm away from the lid and it pops open in just 0.5 seconds, so you’re not left waiting to dispose of your rubbish. Once you’re out of range, the lid snaps shut at the same speed and seals nice and tight to keep unwanted summer visitors, such as pesky fruit flies, out of your bin.
Tall and slimline with a roomy 50L capacity, this modern-looking bin is designed to slot into even a small kitchen and is plenty large enough for a family of 4-5. The body of the bin is a single compartment made from sleek stainless steel, while the detachable lid is plastic with a shiny silver coating. Both are designed for easy cleaning as they won’t stain and can be wiped and buffed with a microfibre cloth. The bin is also surprisingly lightweight, making it easy to move around the kitchen when you want to sweep or mop behind it. It comes with a one-year guarantee.
We found the infrared motion sensor on the lid to be sensitive and super speedy! The lid popped open in under a second and, once we were out of range, it snapped shut at the same speed. Under test, we found no reduction in performance after repeated use of the sensor. Overall, we loved the touch-free opening mechanism as it meant we didn’t have to keep washing our hands in the middle of prepping veg, making it not only more hygienic but also a real time-saver when cooking. We also liked the quick-close mechanism as a way to help keep flies out and any smells in the bin.
Price-wise this is a mid-range sensor bin, meaning that the HOMCOM 50L motion sensor bin offers good value for money, thanks to its excellent touch-free performance and large capacity which make it ideal for a couple or a family.
Tower 58 litre stainless steel sensor bin
Score 18.5 out of 20
Pros:
- Looks sleek and stylish
- Large capacity
- 5-year warranty
Cons:
- Noisy open/close mechanism
This sensor bin is good quality and feels strong and durable, standing up to everyday wear and tear.
I had no issues inserting the batteries and assembling the Tower sensor bin. The instruction booklet contains an annotated image of the bin, depicting its features and the instructions are clear, with each step accompanied by an image. It requires 4 ‘AA’ batteries and the manufacturer states the batteries can last an impressive 3-6 months based on the bin lid opening and closing 20 times a day.
The 58 litre bin consists of a black stainless-steel body with a non-corrosive colour coating and a chrome finish lightweight plastic lid (so loses out on sustainability points!). It looks sleek and expensive, and ties in well with my kitchen. It has a single-use compartment with a removable plastic retaining ring, which sits at the top of the bin to secure the liner in place.
It’s easy to wipe away spills and splashes with a damp cloth, however, I found it best to do so straight away as abrasive cleaners should be avoided on the main body of the bin. Additionally, water should not be used to clean the lid or battery compartment.
The bin uses infrared technology to detect hand movements, gently shutting after 5-6 seconds of inactivity. It also features a manual override panel at the front of the bin which lifts the lid for 90 seconds - handy for those times you need the lid to stay open for longer. Additionally, there is a power switch which deactivates the sensor at the back of the bin.
The lid responds to motion within 0.5 of a second and automatically closes 5-6 seconds after removing your hand (I timed this, it’s true!). I found the sensor to be very efficient but although the bin features a soft-close lid, I found the open/close mechanism to be quite noisy.
The bin is of good quality and feels strong and durable, standing up to everyday wear and tear. It comes with a generous 5-year warranty upon registration of the product.
Coming in at around £80-£90, it feels reasonably priced for a sensor bin of this size, style and quality.
Simplehuman, dual compartment voice activation sensor bin with compost caddy
Score 17.5 out of 20
Pros:
- Battery or mains operated
- Caters for all your recycling and waste needs in one
- Five year warranty
Cons:
- Uses batteries up quickly
- High price tag
The dual compartments were a definite bonus for my family, we’re keen on recycling and a solution that makes it easy for the whole family to be involved with was great.
Setting up the stylish bin is extremely straightforward, once it was out of the box and I’d popped the liner in place (from it’s handy storage compartment on the back), it was just a case of where to position it, which can be next to a socket or powered by batteries.
I used the bin with household waste on the right hand side in the 34L compartment, card board and paper recycling in the blue removable bucket and food waste in the caddy. As a family of 6 (with two in nappies) we generate a lot of waste so the dual compartments and large capacity this bin had to offer was a great plus point for us.
The bin is easy to clean with a quick spray and wipe down, however, I didn’t need to do this very often as the fingerprint-proof coating lived up to its name and kept the brushed stainless steel finish looking pristine for longer.
The bin came with an odorsorb pod which comes with a pod holder that sticks to the inside of the bin lid. The pod itself contains plant-based, natural oils that are slowly released over 45 days to neutralise bin odours and it did exactly as promised.
This sensor bin can be activated with voice control or by moving your hand over the sensor located at the front in the middle. The voice activation provided our family with lots of entertainment and the best response was when we used a slight American accent with the instruction, though it was a little frustrating when it didn’t pick up the voice control, but the motion sensor never failed, so they work together well.
The bin remains open for around 9-10 seconds before it closes automatically, if you need it to stay open longer simply state ‘stay open’ and when you’re done it’s ‘close can’.
The high price tag was one of this models only let downs, having said that I did think it was a good buy if recycling in an all-in-one solution is what you’re looking for, and the caddy proved its value too.
Amazon Basics automatic hands-free stainless steel 50L trash can
Score 16 out of 20
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Batteries have a long life
Cons:
- Noisy opening mechanism
- Cheap finish around the buttons and sensor
The kids found this model easy to use and responsive to their hand gestures which helped encourage them to clean up after themselves - always a win!
After unpacking this bin, I just popped in the supplied 2 D alkaline batteries (this is battery only product) and we were ready to go.
The instructions were clear and straight forward, highlighting both the motion sensor or button control as a means to open the lid. It’s worth noting the bin can be turned off to save battery power, handy if you’re going away and don’t need it to be in standby mode all the time.
It’s 50L capacity is a decent size, so I wasn’t emptying it too frequently.
The model is made from stainless steel, while the lid is plastic - which does bring it down on the style stakes slightly. This single compartment design is easy to clean and with no odour filter there was a slight smell just before it was due to be emptied, which is to be expected.
The bin can be used via the motion sensor or using the two arrow buttons to manually open and close the lid, which is handy if you need it to stay open for a longer period.
In auto mode the bin’s lid opens once you’re within 3-4 inches from the sensor, it opens relatively quickly - 4 seconds to fully open - via a motor that does seems a little noisy when compared to other sensor bins. The sensor indicator then flashes 3 times before it closes again.
The kids found this model easy to use and responsive to their hand gestures which helped encourage them to clean up after themselves - always a win!
The Amazon Basics sensor bin is extremely great value for money and is a great way to introduce a more hygienic way of disposing your household waste at an affordable price. While the main bin is made from a more robust stainless steel, the lid and sensor compartment are all made from silver plastic, which I felt let it down on its appeal.
However, if you’re on a budget and want to add a sensor bin to your kitchen this is a great, affordable option that doesn’t leave you restricted to plug sockets, you won’t be disappointed.
The best pedal and touch bins for 2024
We couldn't resist testing some non-smart bins because voice or hand activation isn't at the top of everyone's list when it comes to buying a bin.
Brabantia Bo Touch 11+23 litre bin
Score 13 out of 20
Pros:
- Quick response to touch
- Stylish design
- Eco credentials
Cons:
- Can be awkward to open with your hands full
The touch mechanism is purely mechanical so there’s no need for batteries or a power supply with this bin, so you can position it exactly where you need it.
The Bo Touch bin arrived neatly in fully recyclable packaging, the legs simply slotted into place and the provided liners were easy to add to their respective compartments.
Simple and straight forward with no unexpected surprises. I tested the 11L and 23L bin and as I have a large family we agreed to use the bigger side for general waste and the smaller compartment for paper and cardboard recycling.
The touch mechanism is purely mechanical so there’s no need for batteries or a power supply with this bin, so you can position it exactly where you need it.
Brabantia prides its on its green credentials, from the packaging to this model’s Cradle-to-Cradle certificate - meaning it’s healthy, circular and responsibly made.
The product is easy to clean, the lid is simple to detach and each compartment comes out for a thorough and hygienic clean, and due to the textured finish to the lid there wasn’t a noticeable build up of fingerprints.
There is no odour filter with this bin, but as the compartments are not too big there is no issue with the contents smelling anyway.
I loved the design of the Bo Touch! With standard kitchen bins I hate the build of crumbs or debris that collect around the base which seem to evade the vacuum cleaner’s suction, however hard you try. So the fact that this product is elevated on sleek, mid-century-style legs enabling you to easily clean underneath, was a definite win in my book. It’s available in 12 different colours so that this really can be a stylish, yet practical, addition to your kitchen space.
A 10-year warranty helps to justify the price tag. But if you’re house proud, or have an open plan space and don’t want your waste disposal solution standing out for all the wrong reasons, this is the best product for you.
Joseph Joseph Totem 40L
Score 12.5 out of 20
Pros:
- Handles recycling, food waste and household waste in one
Cons:
- Slow to open
No instructions were necessary with the Totem bin, simply unpack and add the custom fit liners, and to open this bin you simply push down on the silver metal lip on the top compartment and the lid is released - no batteries required. Having said that, I often felt frustrated waiting for the lid to slowly open.
As we have to separate our recycling we used the bottom, pull-out compartment for paper and cardboard as that’s what we generate the most of. The bottom compartment also holds 20L which is great for recycling, while the food caddy has a capacity of 3L.
The Totem is easy to clean as all three compartments can be lifted clear of the bin, so removing liners and wiping it down is not a problem.
I loved the space saving aspect of this bin, the totem-style helps you to make the most of vertical space and offers an all-in-one waste and recycling solution in a compact design.
The odour filter, which the brand recommends changing every 3 months, sits in a compartment in the underside of the lid. It was a bit tricky to pop the lid off from the inside of the lid, but adding the filter and slotting the lid back in was quick and easy.
I really liked the design of this bin, everything was neat and compact - making great use of the vertical space available. I loved that the food waste caddy was concealed from an aesthetics point of view, but for practical purposes access to this feature wasn’t as easy as the bin was on the eye.
Despite the 10 year warranty and the quality of this product, for a family of 6 where time is precious, for me I’m not sure it’s worth the price.
The 20L capacity meant we were emptying it fairly regularly, and standard liners didn’t work so well due to the shape, so you could end up buying the liners priced at £9 for a pack of 20 more frequently. Waiting for the lid to open, the frequent emptying and issues with the food waste caddy, unfortunately, put me off this clever all-in-one solution.
Joseph Joseph intelligent waste Titan trash compactor
Score 12 out of 20
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Less frequent emptying
- Strong bin liners
Cons:
- Due to the large capacity the bin can start to smell
There is no function to keep the lid open while you go back and forth to the bin, but as the pedal is so efficient this isn’t a problem and you soon get used to the set up.
Super easy to set up, it did take me a little while to get the bag hooked on properly on my first attempt, but other than that I popped the odour filter into the compartment in the lid and it was ready for use.
There are no batteries or power supply needed for this bin as the quick, easy to use manual mechanism is all that’s needed to compress the waste to make the most of the space.
This simple design is in stainless steel which gives a durable and stylish finish to the compactor. A quick spray and wipe makes the bin easy to keep clean and mark free too.
The compactor comprises of one 30L compartment, with an odour filter built into the lid. The kids loved using the compressor handle, so I feel we really made the most of squashing as much rubbish into the sturdy Joseph Joseph liners as possible.
And while the odour filter worked well to keep the odour under control I did notice a smell as I walked passed just before the bin was due to be emptied.
A foot pedal opens the bin’s lid swiftly and effectively in no time at all and gently, and quietly, closes once the pedal is released. There is no function to keep the lid open while you go back and forth to the bin, but as the pedal is so efficient this isn’t a problem and you soon get used to the set up.
At £199 the compactor boasts quite a pricey tag, however, once registered Joseph Joseph offer a 10 year warranty which makes a huge difference to the longevity of this product.
If you’re after a compact bin for your kitchen and you like the idea of not having to take out the trash as often as you usually do, this could be a great solution.
Dimensions: H68.4cm x W39cm x D34.4cm
What to consider before buying a new kitchen bin
A kitchen bin is an essential part of every household, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference in maintaining a clean and hygienic kitchen environment. With so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. We've delved into some of the the key factors to consider when purchasing a new kitchen bin, so you know what to look for.
Size
The size of the bin you choose should be based on your household's needs. For instance, a slim kitchen bin is a lifesaver if you're short on space, while a busy family may prefer to sacrifice a little more space for the convenience of a large kitchen bin. A low and wide model - like the Brabantia kitchen bin featured in our list - might suit some spaces, while a tall, pedal bin such as the Joseph Joseph Titan trash compactor, can compress your waste, saving you time and space in one.
Measure the available space in your kitchen and choose a bin that fits comfortably. You may consider fitting a bin in an under-cabinet storage situation, in which case, you'll need a smaller bin.
Style
Kitchen bins come in various styles, from classic pedal bins to modern touchless options. Choose a style that complements your kitchen décor and is easy to use. Consider the lid style, whether it is a flip-top, pedal or touchless, and the material used to make the bin.
Hygiene
When it comes to choosing a kitchen bin, hygiene is an important factor to consider. Look for a bin that has a tight-fitting lid to prevent odours and germs from spreading. Some bins even have an odour-blocking feature, which can be helpful if you're disposing of food waste. Additionally, choose a bin that is easy to clean and sanitize, such as one with a removable inner bucket.
Ease of cleaning
A kitchen bin that is difficult to clean can be a breeding ground for bacteria and odours. Look for a bin that is made from materials that are easy to wipe down and sanitize, such as stainless steel or plastic. Some bins even have a non-stick coating that prevents food waste from sticking to the surface. Also, consider whether the bin has a removable inner bucket, which makes it easier to empty and clean.
Recycling
Many people are now more conscious of their impact on the environment and want to recycle as much as possible. Look for a bin that has separate compartments for different types of waste, such as recyclables and non-recyclables. Some bins even have a composting compartment for food waste that can be used for gardening. Additionally, consider the size of the bin and how often you will need to empty it, as larger bins may be more suitable for households that generate a lot of waste.
FAQs
What is a smart bin?
A smart bin is a solution created with an intelligent system that uses sensors, such as motion or voice activation, in order to carry out their function.
Which is the best smart bin?
There are many smart bin solutions on the market, incorporating features such as motion senses, voice activation sensors and compressors. The best kitchen smart bins are the ones that incorporate more than one of these aspects in its design. The Simplehuman dual compartment sensor bin with voice control is one model that does just that, as well as offering a number of spaces to tackle all of your waste organising needs.
Looking for more recommendations for household buys? Check out our Buyer's Guide section for our picks of everything from the best dishwashers on the market to our favourite stylish food waste caddies to complete your waste storage makeover. For a bigger eco switch-up, take a look at our guide to making your kitchen more sustainable as well.
