Recycling only happens if the bin is as easy to reach as the trash, which is why the best recycling bins are either a second compartment in the same can or a pull-out that lives in the cabinet beside it. The cheap alternative, a big collapsible bag for bottles and cans in the garage or pantry, works for households that recycle in bulk and take it out weekly. We ranked the recycling bins in our home and kitchen catalog by total capacity and how it is split, where it lives (floor, under counter or cabinet), lid and pedal design, odor control, what bags fit, build (stainless steel versus fabric and plastic), and what thousands of owners report after a year of stepping on the pedal.
We have not filled every bin with a week of cans ourselves; the verdicts rest on the spec sheets and on the owner review history. Prices are not printed because they change daily; every button opens the live Amazon page. For single-compartment cans see our kitchen trash cans guide, and for keeping the bin and the floor around it fresh, our all-purpose cleaners guide. Do Best Deal ranks on owner history and published specs.
How we picked
- Built for sorting. Dual compartments, a pull-out with two buckets, or a dedicated recyclables bin; single cans live in the trash can guide.
- Capacity and split stated. Total litres or gallons and how they divide, since a tiny recycling side is the common complaint.
- Lid and pedal rated. Soft-close lids and pedals with a stated cycle rating on the stainless picks.
- Bags that fit. We note which bins take standard 8 to 13 gallon bags and which need custom liners.
- Owner history. Every pick holds a strong or excellent owner rating across hundreds to thousands of owner reviews; the ranking weighs volume, rating and fit for the space.
The picks
simplehuman 35 Liter / 9.3 Gallon Dual Compartment Under Counter Kitchen Cabinet Pull-Out Recycling Bin and Trash Can, Chrome
The simplehuman pull-out is the recycling bin for a kitchen that would rather not see one. Two buckets sit side by side in a steel frame that mounts inside a base cabinet and glides out on the same ball-bearing tracks used in commercial drawers, so a full load of glass pulls as easily as an empty one. The frame is steel with chrome accents and the buckets take simplehuman code D and G liners, which fit without bunching. Owners widely praise the smooth tracks and the clean look, and it carries an excellent owner rating from the largest review base on this page. Most owner complaints mention the measuring required, since not every cabinet is wide enough, the cost of custom liners, and that 35 litres between two buckets fills fast in a big household. For a cabinet that fits, nothing else here is as tidy.
- Trash and recycling vanish behind the cabinet door
- Ball-bearing tracks glide out under a full load
- Excellent owner rating, the most-reviewed recycler here
- All-steel frame built for years of daily pulls
- Needs a free base cabinet of the right width
- Custom liners cost more than grocery bags
- Small total capacity compared with the floor cans
EKO EcoCasa II 36L+24L Dual Trash Can with Recycle Bin, Stainless Steel Garbage Can with Lid, Deodorizer Compartment, Odor-Proof and Fingerprint Resistant
The EKO EcoCasa II is the dual can that most people picture: fingerprint-resistant stainless, a stainless pedal engineered for more than 200,000 steps, and two lids with built-in dampers that close without a bang. Inside are two color-coded buckets, 36 litres for trash and 24 for recycling, with handles for carrying to the curb, and a deodorizer compartment in the lid takes a charcoal or scented insert. Side handles move the whole can for mopping. Owners widely praise the quiet lids and the build; most owner complaints mention the recycling side being the smaller bucket, which matters in a household that recycles more than it throws away, and the single pedal opening both lids. It is the all-round floor pick.
- Sixty litres in a footprint that fits beside an island
- Pedal rated for 200,000 steps and damped lids
- Deodorizer compartment in the lid
- Strong owner rating from a large review base
- Recycling side is the smaller 24 L bucket
- Shared pedal opens both lids at once
- Fingerprint-resistant is not fingerprint-proof
iTouchless 16 Gallon Dual Kitchen Trash Can/Recycle Bin | 2 Odor Filters
iTouchless builds the dual can around the complaint everyone has with the EKO: here both buckets are 8 gallons, so recycling and trash get equal room. The buckets take standard 8 to 13 gallon bags and have retention holes that tuck the slack so no bag edge shows. Each lid carries an AbsorbX carbon filter that absorbs odors rather than masking them, the pedal mechanism is lab-tested past 200,000 steps, and the lids soft-close silently on a surgical-grade stainless body. Owners widely praise the equal split and the standard bags; it has the weakest owner rating among the stainless cans, and most owner complaints mention lids that need adjusting to line up and the filter replacement cost. For a household that fills the blue bin first it is the right shape.
- Two equal buckets, so recycling gets as much room as trash
- Takes standard grocery-store bags with holes to tuck the slack
- Carbon filter in each lid; strong owner rating
- Color-coded blue and green buckets
- Weakest owner rating among the stainless picks; lid alignment complaints appear
- Carbon filters need replacing
- Wide footprint for a small kitchen
Amazon Basics Dual Compartment Recycling Trash Can with Soft-Close Lid, Fingerprint Resistant, Removable Liner Buckets, 60 Liters, Rectangular, Grey, Silver
The Amazon Basics dual can is the budget route to a 60-litre stainless recycler: two 7.9-gallon plastic buckets with handles under a single soft-close lid, in fingerprint-resistant steel on rubber feet. It does the sorting job for noticeably less than the EKO and iTouchless. The compromises are a single lid that opens both sides, which lets smells cross and means every bottle opens the trash too, and owners reporting lighter-gauge steel and a pedal that feels less solid. Owners widely praise the price and the even split; most owner complaints mention the pedal and the shared lid. For a rental or a second kitchen it is the sensible buy; for a forever kitchen, spend up.
- Sixty litres split evenly for less than the brand-name cans
- Removable buckets with handles
- Soft-close lid and rubber feet
- Strong owner rating
- One lid covers both buckets, so sorting means opening everything
- Thinner steel than EKO or simplehuman by owner account
- Pedal durability is the common complaint
Garvee Trash Can, 2 x 8 gal (2 x 30 L) Garbage Can for Kitchen Dual Compartment Recycling Kitchen Step Trash Bin, Stainless Steel Trash and Recycle Bin Combo with Soft-Close Lid,Matte Grey
The Garvee packs two 8-gallon buckets into a footprint under 19 inches wide and 15 deep, which is the dual can for a galley kitchen or the end of an island. The body is 410 ferritic stainless with a matte grey fingerprint-resistant finish, the soft-close lid opens to 80 degrees on the pedal and locks at 95 for hands-free use during cooking, and the inner polypropylene buckets have weighted lids of their own so smells stay inside even when the outer lid is up. A liner rim hides bag edges, and it ships assembled with a lifetime warranty. Owners widely praise the compact size and the lock-open lid; most owner complaints mention the lighter steel and the newer brand. For the space, it is the pick.
- Two full 8-gallon buckets in under 19 inches of width
- Lid locks open at 95 degrees for long cleanups
- Inner buckets have their own weighted lids for odor
- Lifetime warranty; strong owner rating
- Lighter 410-grade steel than 304
- Newer brand with a shorter history
- Matte grey only in this listing
SIMPLI-Magic 21 Gallon (80L) Dual Compartment Kitchen Trash Can - Hands-Free Step Pedal, Soft-Close Lid, Stainless Steel Recycling Bin with Odor Filter (40L + 40L)
For a family that fills a bin a day, the SIMPLI-Magic gives 40 litres a side, 80 in all, in brushed stainless with a hands-free pedal, a soft-close lid that drops in under three seconds and a stay-open mode for a big cleanup. A compartment in the lid holds an odor filter, and the two color-coded buckets lift out by their handles. Owners widely praise the capacity and the quiet lid; most owner complaints are about size, since it needs a wall of its own, and price. If the EKO fills before collection day, this is the step up.
- Forty litres per side, the biggest split here
- Stay-open lid for a long cleanup
- Odor filter compartment; strong owner rating
- Brushed finish hides grease and prints
- Big: needs a wall of its own
- Priciest floor can on the page
- Fewer reviews than EKO or iTouchless
Recycling Bin for Kitchen Indoor Home, Large 26 Gallon 100L Recycle Bin with Lid Removeable Reusable Inner Bag Bottle Can Glass Waste Plastice Stickers,Black
This collapsible bin is the recycling answer for the pantry, the garage or the apartment that returns bottles for deposit. It is a 100-litre box of coated oxford cloth held square by four rods, with a bamboo handle, a lid flap you push a bottle through one-handed, and an inner bag made from recycled material that unclips at the corners and goes to the curb or the depot, then into the washing machine. Stickers label it for glass, plastic or cans. Owners widely praise the capacity for the price and how it folds flat when not needed; most owner complaints mention that it is cloth rather than steel, so it looks like a laundry hamper, and that the flap lid is not a pedal. For bulk recycling it is the cheapest sensible option.
- A hundred litres for the price of a few bags of groceries
- Lid flap lets you drop a bottle in one-handed
- Inner bag unclips and carries to the curb or depot
- Collapses flat; strong owner rating
- Fabric and rods, not a stainless can
- No pedal; the lid is a flap
- Sorting labels are stickers
iEGrow 29 Gallons Recycling Bins for Kitchen, Indoor Recycle Bins with Lid, 110L Large Recycle bin with 2 Removeable Reusable Inner Bags, for Bottles Cans Glass Plastice Cartons(Black)
The iEGrow is the 26-gallon bin’s bigger sibling: 110 litres in a tall, narrow fabric box with a bamboo handle and a lid, and two inner bags instead of one, so a full bag can go to the depot while the second takes over. Thickened waterproof fabric handles a week of rinsed bottles and the whole thing folds flat for storage. Owners widely praise the two-bag system and the height, which uses pantry space a wide can cannot; most owner complaints are the same as any fabric bin, that it is not a stainless can and the flap is not a pedal. For a household that recycles by the carload it is the practical choice.
- The largest capacity on the page
- Two inner bags so one can be at the depot while the other fills
- Folds for storage; strong owner rating
- Tall and narrow enough for a pantry corner
- Fabric; not a kitchen-floor showpiece
- Flap lid, no pedal
- Fewer reviews than the stainless cans
Compare the picks
| Product | Capacity | Split | Where it lives | Body | Our score | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| simplehuman pull-outsimplehuman | 35 L / 9.3 gal | Two buckets | Inside a base cabinet | Steel frame, chrome | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| EKO EcoCasa IIEKO | 60 L / 16 gal | 36 + 24 L | Floor | Stainless, 200k-step pedal | 8.8/10 | 8.8 | See price |
| iTouchless 16 galiTouchless | 16 gal | 8 + 8 gal | Floor | Stainless, carbon filters | 8.6/10 | 8.6 | See price |
| Amazon Basics 60 LAmazon Basics | 60 L / 15.9 gal | 7.9 + 7.9 gal | Floor | Stainless, one lid | 8.6/10 | 8.6 | See price |
| Garvee 2 x 8 galGarvee | 16 gal | 8 + 8 gal | Floor, compact | 410 stainless, matte | 9.0/10 | 9.0 | See price |
| SIMPLI-Magic 21 galSIMPLI-MAGIC | 80 L / 21 gal | 40 + 40 L | Floor, large | Brushed stainless | 9.1/10 | 9.1 | See price |
| 26 gal collapsiblePakusane | 100 L / 26 gal | Single | Pantry or garage | Oxford cloth, rods | 8.6/10 | 8.6 | See price |
| iEGrow 29 galiEGrow | 110 L / 29 gal | Single, 2 bags | Pantry or garage | Thickened fabric | 9.0/10 | 9.0 | See price |
Pull-out, floor can or bag
A cabinet pull-out like the simplehuman hides everything and keeps the floor clear, but it needs a free base cabinet at least as wide as the frame, and total capacity is modest. A dual floor can (EKO, iTouchless, Amazon Basics, Garvee, SIMPLI-Magic) is the most common answer: one footprint, two buckets, one pedal, and capacities from 16 to 21 gallons. A collapsible fabric bin (the 26-gallon and iEGrow) is not for the kitchen floor at all; it is for the pantry, mudroom or garage where bottles and cans pile up between depot runs, and it costs a fraction of a steel can. Many households end up with a small dual can in the kitchen and a big bag in the garage.
The split matters more than the total
Look at how the capacity divides before the total. The EKO gives trash 36 litres and recycling 24, which suits a household that throws away more than it recycles; the iTouchless, Amazon Basics, Garvee and SIMPLI-Magic split evenly, which suits the reverse. In most cities with single-stream recycling the blue bin fills faster than the trash, so an even split or a bigger recycling side is the safer bet. Check your bag size too: the iTouchless takes standard 8 to 13 gallon bags, the simplehuman wants its own liners, and the fabric bins use a reusable inner bag that goes straight to the curb.
Pedals, lids and smells
A stainless pedal with a stated cycle rating (EKO and iTouchless both quote 200,000 steps) outlasts the unrated plastic linkages in cheaper cans, and that is the part that fails first. Soft-close lids keep the peace at night. For odor, the EKO and SIMPLI-Magic have a compartment for a deodorizer, the iTouchless includes carbon filters that need replacing, and the Garvee puts weighted lids on the inner buckets themselves, which is the simplest fix. Rinse recyclables before they go in and the recycling side rarely smells; the trash side is what the filters are for.
What is the best recycling bin for a small kitchen?
The Garvee 2 x 8 gallon fits two full buckets in under 19 inches of width. If you have a free base cabinet, the simplehuman pull-out takes no floor space at all.
Is a dual compartment can better than two separate cans?
For most kitchens yes: one footprint, one pedal and sorting at the source. Two separate cans only win if trash and recycling need very different sizes or live in different rooms, which is where a fabric bin in the garage comes in.
Do dual trash cans take regular bags?
The iTouchless and Garvee take standard 8 to 13 gallon tall kitchen bags. The EKO, SIMPLI-Magic and Amazon Basics buckets take standard bags with some slack. The simplehuman pull-out is sized for its own code D and G liners.
How do I stop a recycling bin from smelling?
Rinse cans and bottles, keep the lid closed, and use the odor compartment or carbon filter if the can has one. The Garvee puts weighted lids on the inner buckets, which seals smells even with the outer lid open.
Are collapsible fabric recycling bins worth it?
For bulk bottles and cans in a pantry or garage, yes. The 26-gallon and iEGrow bins hold 100 litres or more, fold flat, and their inner bags carry straight to the depot. They are not a substitute for a lidded can on the kitchen floor.
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