On my roster of things to improve, the kitchen trash can has, historically, remained untouched. But that’s because I assumed my kitchen trash can existed outside aesthetic goals for the home; at its worst, I considered it an obligatory eyesore and, at its best, a boring piece of necessary kitchen equipment. The other week, however, I spotted a tomato-colored Brabantia trash can in the wild (a friend’s apartment), and was taken with how chic it looked. Along with her retro yellow Moccamaster and graphic Vitra Uten Silo, the cheery trash can completed a perfectly bauhaus trifecta. And, for once, I didn’t want the kitchen trash can to feel invisible.
For far too long, kitchen trash cans have taken an aesthetic back seat to the casual home wastebasket, which has traditionally pulled focus through darling flower motifs, filigree materials, and other design splendors. Now, at a time when no home good is above aestheticizing, I’ve noticed that kitchen trash cans are finally starting to get a little more attention. I’m still waiting for some truly ornate offerings (where is the Dolce & Gabbana trash can?), but there are some delightful, color-popping moves in the right direction.
Below, I have rounded up a selection of my favorite non-ugly kitchen trash cans — from a high-tech composter to a bin with Googie legs — that can brighten up your kitchen.
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| Brabantia
Brabantia New Icon Step Trash Can
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Ah, Brabantia. For me, this Dutch brand is the undisputed master of making cool, color-popping kitchen trash cans. You can find variations of its bins on swanky home and kitchen sites such as West Elm, Food52, and Williams Sonoma, but Amazon is also home to its 8-gallon step trash can in 20 colorways, including this bold red.
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| The Basket Lady
The Basket Lady Wicker Kitchen Trash Basket with Metal Liner
Prices taken at time of publishing.
My kitchen is essentially in the same space as my living room, which is why I was so drawn to this charming wicker trash can. How nice would it be to catch a glimpse of some cozy rattan material from my couch, in lieu of, say, a sad steel bin? But don’t be fooled: Inside its cottagecore build, there is a 13-gallon, stainless steel bin.
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| Brabantia
Brabantia Bo Touch Top Dual Compartment Trash Can
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Why is it so satisfying to see a trash can with legs? (My theory is that it makes it feel less bulky.) This dual trash and recycling bin from Brabantia comes in nine colorways — including an electric blue, bright red, and pine green — and the option of either a 3- or 6-gallon capacity.
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| Hapimess
Hapimess Connor Trash Can with Free Mini Connor
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Connor’s brushed stainless steel kitchen trash can comes in a dozen bright and neutral colorways, and has a whopping 50-liter capacity. The big bin is on sale right now, and Connor will throw in a bonus 1.3-liter trash can for posterity.
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| Louvixa
Louvixa Tilt Out Trash Bin Cabinet
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Another approach to the blight of the ugly kitchen trash can is to simply conceal it. Renters or folks living in tinier spaces might not have the cabinet space to spare, but Wayfair is full of affordable tilt-out trash cans that look like they came from a rich, farm-adjacent Connecticut vacation property.
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| Mill
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Owning the Mill Food Recycler is the closest that I think I could ever get to knowing what it’s like to have a butler. It might not be the most colorful of our non-ugly can offerings, but it has a minimalist charm and is by far the most high-tech trash can on our list. The Mill will compost your food while you sleep, and as Mill states on its site, offers an “odorless, effortless, and fully automated” way to compost everything from bones to avocado pits and more, and it comes in a range of capacities, from 1.7 gallons to 3.5 liters. At nearly the cost of my monthly rent it’s one hell of an investment, but a serious environmental (and time-saving) payoff, too.
