The Best Kitchen Bins and Rubbish Bins in Australia for 2026

Why is the kitchen bin the thing everyone gets wrong in a new home?

Because it is the last thing on the list and the first thing you use. Somebody runs out for a bin because there is already a pile of pizza boxes on the benchtop. Six weeks later you have a bin that does not fit the gap beside the fridge and has no room for recycling.

A kitchen bin is almost entirely a mechanical decision. Litres, footprint, how the lid opens, whether a bin liner fits, and where the recycling goes. Check what your council collects before you decide, because that settles whether you need a small caddy for food scraps as well as a main bin. The litres, footprints and lid types for each pick below come from its Amazon Australia listing. Flies around the bin are a separate problem, and our guide to indoor fly traps for Australian kitchens covers it.

What is the best kitchen bin in Australia? The short answer

The SONGMICS 30 L Steel Kitchen Rubbish Bin is the best overall kitchen bin in Australia on this page: a 30 litre steel pedal bin with a soft close lid, holding 4.6 stars from 4,197 ratings on Amazon Australia. The listing calls it a rectangular slim bin that fits neatly in tight spaces.

If you want a hands free lid, the EKO Mirage-T 50L Automatic Sensor Bin offers 50 litres of brushed stainless with a motion sensor lid, a stay open button and a removable liner ring, and holds 4.3 stars from 12,093 ratings.

If you want waste and recycling split in one unit, the Amazon Basics 30L Dual Bin Soft Close Trash Can divides into two 15 litre buckets behind a single foot pedal, at 4.4 stars from 106,075 ratings, the largest review count of the eight picks here.

If budget is the whole point, the Willow Touch Top Bin gives you 30 litres of plastic with a press top lid, at 4.4 stars from 180 ratings, a small review base.

For a bin that lives inside a cupboard, see the Glad Roomate and the SONGMICS 8L further down, which both hang on a cupboard door.

How do these eight kitchen bins compare?

The eight bins run from an 8 litre hanging caddy to a 60 litre dual bin, and from foot pedal and sensor lids to press top and manual lift. Compare them on litres, lid type, footprint and listing rating before you look at brand. The table below lists each one.

Narrow this down on capacity against footprint. A 60 litre dual bin is glorious until you measure the 58 centimetre gap it needs.

Two picks share the highest star average at 4.6: the SONGMICS 30 L and the Glad Roomate. The Amazon Basics has the largest review count of the eight, at 106,075 ratings. Footprints come from each listing's product information table, and we found no dimensions on the Willow listing.

How we chose these kitchen bins

NestPath is an aggregator, not a laboratory. We do not run bins through a rig and we will never claim we did. We checked every household kitchen bin against two sources: the Amazon Australia listing for each bin, and the makers' own information on that listing. Specs come from the maker's bullet points and the product information on each listing.

We screened on four things: the size of the review base, whether the listing is in stock on Amazon Australia, whether the listing contradicts itself, and whether the bin suits a household kitchen. Where a listing gives two values for one spec, such as the SONGMICS 30 L weight, we say so instead of picking one.

Pull out cabinet bins are left out because they are a cabinet purchase, not a freestanding bin.

Last checked: 17 October 2026.

Which kitchen bin type is right for you: pedal, sensor or dual?

Choose a pedal bin for a foot operated lid, a sensor bin for a hands free lid, and a dual bin to split waste and recycling. Here the SONGMICS 30 L is the pedal bin, the EKO Mirage-T 50L is the sensor bin, and the Amazon Basics 30L and Maxkon 60L are dual bins. Hanging bins suit food scraps.

• Pedal bin: the lid opens with a foot pedal. The SONGMICS 30 L listing calls it a pedal bin, the Amazon Basics listing describes a hands free foot lever, and the Maxkon listing describes a foot pedal rubbish bin.
• Sensor bin: the lid opens on a motion sensor. The EKO Mirage-T 50L listing names a motion sensor and calls it a hands free automatic bin.
• Dual bin: two separate buckets or compartments in one unit. The Amazon Basics lists two 15 litre interior bins, the Joseph Joseph Totem Compact lists two 20 litre compartments, and the Maxkon lists 2 separate buckets.
• Hanging bin: a small bin that hangs on a cupboard door. The Glad Roomate listing says to hang it on the inside of a door, and the SONGMICS 8L listing says it hangs on cabinet doors up to 2.5 cm thick.

How big a kitchen bin do you need?

Match litres to the people in the house: 30 litres suits one or two people, 40 to 50 litres suits two to four, and 60 litres suits four or more. This is our own size guide, not a claim from any listing, and the examples in the table are the bins in this guide.

Which bin suits which kitchen?

Match the bin to the kitchen you have. A tight gap suits the Glad Roomate or the SONGMICS 8L, which hang on a cupboard door. A large household suits the Maxkon 60L, a rental suits the Willow Touch Top, and waste, recycling and food scraps in one unit suits the Joseph Joseph Totem Compact.

Best overall: SONGMICS 30 L Steel Kitchen Rubbish Bin

The SONGMICS 30 L Steel Kitchen Rubbish Bin is the best overall kitchen bin in this guide for most kitchens. The listing describes a rectangular slim bin with a 30L capacity that fits neatly in tight spaces, measuring 28.5 by 34 by 54.4 centimetres, and the lid opens with a foot pedal.

The listing describes a soft close lid that closes silently and gently, a removable PP plastic inner bucket with side handles and a bag securing hole, and a non slip bottom for stability. The body is crafted from steel and PP plastic in Pale Gold and Ink Black and, per the listing, is easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth.

It ships from Amazon and is sold by SONGMICS HOME AU, and it holds 4.6 stars from 4,197 ratings, level with the Glad Roomate at the top star average in this guide. Buy it if you want a foot pedal bin for one or two people, or as the recycling half of a two bin setup. For waste and recycling in one unit, see the dual bins below.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The listing contradicts itself on two points. The product information table also lists a motion sensor, while the title, bullets and description describe a pedal bin, so treat it as a foot pedal bin. The table gives the weight as 3.1 kilograms and the description gives 3.2 kg, so check the weight with the seller if it matters to you.

It is one 30 litre bucket, so it does not split waste and recycling, and we found no warranty wording on the listing.

Best sensor kitchen bin: EKO Mirage-T 50L Automatic Sensor Bin

If you want a hands free lid and have the floor space, this is the sensor lid choice. It holds 50 litres in a brushed stainless body measuring 38.4 centimetres long by 25.9 wide by 62.5 high, so it is narrow for its capacity and slots into the gap at the end of a bench run.

The listing names premium motion sensor technology and a stay open feature: a simple press of the button keeps the lid open, which helps during larger cleaning tasks. The product information table also lists quiet close and a smudge resistant finish, and the bullets describe a removable liner ring that keeps the bag in place under a large lid that conceals excess bag overhang.

The table gives the weight as 4 kilograms and the warranty as 3 year warranty. It holds 4.3 stars from 12,093 ratings. Buy it if you have 25.9 centimetres of floor width, you cook a lot, and you want a lid you do not have to touch.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The sensor range is short. One reviewer on the listing says you have to get quite close to the sensor for it to activate, and adds that it will not activate when you walk past it.

Reviews also mention the lid stopping working. One review is titled Stopped working after 6 weeks, and the Amazon customer summary mentions the lid stopping working after three months and breaking within a year. A sensor lid adds a motor that can fail, and the listing shows a 3 year warranty.

Best dual bin for waste and recycling: Amazon Basics 30L Dual Bin Soft Close Trash Can

This is a good choice if you want waste and recycling split in one unit. It holds 30 litres across two 15 litre inner buckets, behind one lid and one foot pedal, in a stainless steel body.

The split is the whole point: general waste one side, recycling the other. The bullets describe two interior plastic liner buckets with handles that can be easily removed, a hands free foot lever, a soft close lid that reduces noise from opening and closing, and a fingerprint proof, smudge resistant stainless steel exterior. The product information table gives the dimensions as 39.9 by 33 by 52.1 centimetres, so measure the gap before you order.

On liners, the bullets give no bag size. One reviewer on the listing says there is a hole at the back of the inner bin so you can push the plastic bag in.

It holds 4.4 stars from 106,075 ratings, the largest review count of the eight picks in this guide. Buy it if you want recycling separated and have room for a 39.9 by 33 centimetre footprint.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Each side is a 15 litre bucket, so bulky packaging such as a pizza box has to be broken down before it goes in.

Leave a few centimetres of clearance behind the bin so the lid can open without touching the wall.

Best budget kitchen bin: Willow Touch Top Bin 30 Litre

Thirty litres of plastic with a press top lid. The listing names The Decor Corporation Pty. Ltd. as the manufacturer and Australia as the country of origin, and this is the bin for a rental, a share house, or the recycling half of a two bin setup.

The product information table lists the material as plastic and the opening mechanism as a press top, and describes the bin as designed without awkward areas that can catch and hold dirt. We found no dimensions on the listing, so check the size before you order.

It holds 4.4 stars from 180 ratings, a small review base next to the Amazon Basics, so weight that figure accordingly. One reviewer on the listing titles their review Affordable and sturdy.

The strategic case is the two bin play. Two of these give you 60 litres across separate waste and recycling bins, and let you put them in two places rather than one large unit in the walkway. Buy it if you want a bin that works and you are not decorating around it.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The lid spring is the weak point. One reviewer on the listing writes that springs sometimes break but are 100% better than the slide lid alternative. The product information table states no warranty.

It is plastic, and the table lists the room type as washroom, so in an open plan kitchen it is a real consideration.

Best kitchen bin for recycling and food scraps: Joseph Joseph Totem Compact 40L

This bin handles general waste, recycling and food scraps in one vertical footprint. The bullets list two 20 litre compartments for separating waste and recycling, plus a 3 litre removable food waste caddy with lid.

The stacking is the clever part. The bullets describe a unique vertical design that maximises capacity in a compact space, and at 36.6 centimetres long by 30 wide it takes less floor than the Amazon Basics dual bin (39.9 by 33) while holding 40 litres against its 30, because it goes up to 76 centimetres instead of out. The bullets also list integrated odour control with replaceable activated carbon filters and removable buckets with liner retaining holes and carrier bag hooks, and the table lists a 10 year guarantee against manufacturing defects, the longest warranty stated on the eight listings.

The caddy is the food scraps part: a 3 litre removable food waste caddy with lid, so scraps have their own small container.

It holds 4.3 stars from 5,020 ratings, and the table lists a manual lift opening. Buy it if you have a small kitchen and want waste, recycling and food scraps in one tall unit.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Liners need a check: the bullets name liner retaining holes and carrier bag hooks but give no bag size, so measure the bucket litres and buy matching liners.

At 76 centimetres tall it needs height to spare, and the manual lift lid means there is no pedal or sensor.

Best big kitchen bin for families: Maxkon 60L Pedal Trash Bin Dual Compartment

Sixty litres, two compartments, one pedal. This is the bin for large households, holding 60 litres across two removable 30 litre buckets.

The bullets describe a foot pedal rubbish bin with 2 separate buckets, and the 30L inner bucket is removable with a carrying handle. The product information table lists dual compartment, odor seal, quiet close and removable bucket, and the title lists a coated steel body. The trade is footprint: the table gives 58 centimetres long by 32 wide by 67 high, the longest footprint of the picks that list their dimensions, and that is the number to measure before you order. A gap at the end of an island may suit it; a galley may not.

It holds 4.5 stars from 187 ratings, a small review base next to the Amazon Basics or EKO, so weight it accordingly. It ships from Amazon and is sold by AUSWAY.

Two separate buckets rather than a divided single tub means you can lift out the recycling side without disturbing the other. Buy it if you have a large household and have measured 58 centimetres.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The footprint is the flaw. There is no way around 58 centimetres, so measure the gap first.

The title lists coated steel rather than the stainless steel described on the EKO and Amazon Basics listings.

Best under sink kitchen bin: Glad Roomate Under Counter Trash Can

Twelve litres, measuring 17.8 by 24.1 by 43.4 centimetres, and it hangs on the inside of your cupboard door. If your kitchen has no floor to spare, this is the option to look at.

The install is the selling point. The bullets say there is no need to drill or screw: use the over the cabinet door hook to hang the bin inside or outside the cabinet, with a strong adhesive hanger provided. Hang it inside the under sink door to keep it out of sight, hang it on the outside for easy access, or stand it on the floor.

The dual lid is the second reason it works. The bullets describe flip back and slide front opening modes, where flip back allows quick access and slide front keeps the waste basket open during cleanup. The product information table lists the opening mechanism as manual lift and open top as an additional feature, so check how the lid behaves for you.

It holds 4.6 stars from 1,554 ratings, level with the SONGMICS 30 L at the top star average in this guide. Buy it if you are in an apartment or a small kitchen, or you want food scraps under the sink rather than on the bench.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is small. The bullets say it is a small waste bin designed for under counters and ask you to measure your space, and one reviewer on the listing says 12 litres is about the size of a supermarket carry bag.

The same reviewer says hanging it off a drawer is completely impractical, so hang it on a hinged door.

Best hanging bin for food scraps: SONGMICS Hanging Kitchen Bin 8L

Eight litres of steel that hangs on a cupboard door and weighs 1.2 kilograms. This is the food scrap caddy that does not live on your benchtop.

The product information table gives dimensions of 25.8 centimetres long by 15.2 wide by 32 high, and the description gives the height with the lid flipped open as 46 centimetres. Those numbers matter, because it has to fit inside a cupboard door without fouling the shelves. Measure your door to shelf clearance first.

The bullets describe a tightly sealed lid that contains odours, a hook for cabinet doors up to 2.5 centimetres thick, an adhesive hook for smooth walls, and dual bag holes that secure the bag out of sight. The bullets say stainless steel while the table lists alloy steel, plastic and polypropylene, so we describe it as a steel bin. Like the Glad it opens two ways, flip up or slide down.

It holds 4.4 stars from 838 ratings, and the removable inner bucket with handles lets you carry scraps to the garden compost bin, as the listing puts it. Buy it as a second bin: it pairs with any larger pick above and takes food scraps out of your main liner.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The adhesive hook is the weak link. One reviewer on the listing says the sticker keeps coming unstuck. Use the over door hook where you can.

Liners need a check at 8 litres: the bullets name dual bag holes to secure the bag, so match the bag size to the bucket.

What about pull out cupboard bins?

A pull out cabinet bin is not a freestanding bin, so none of the eight picks is one. It mounts on a runner inside a base cupboard and comes out with the door, which frees the floor and hides the bag.

It is a cabinet purchase, so measure the internal cabinet width and the door swing before you order. For a bin that lives in a cupboard without joinery, the Glad Roomate and the SONGMICS 8L hang on the inside of the door.

What should you look for in a kitchen bin?

Measure the gap first, then choose litres, then choose how the lid opens, in that order, so the bin you buy fits your kitchen. A set of food storage containers pairs with this decision because less wasted food means less in the bin. The checklist below covers footprint, litres, lid, liners, material and warranty.

• Footprint before capacity. Measure the gap, including depth from the wall and clearance behind for the lid to swing. Footprints in this guide run from 25.8 by 15.2 centimetres for the SONGMICS 8L to 58 by 32 for the Maxkon, and the EKO Mirage-T holds 50 litres in a body 25.9 centimetres wide.
• Litres by household size. By our own guide, 8 to 12 litres is a caddy, 30 litres suits one or two people or works as a recycling bin, 40 to 50 litres suits two to four, and 60 litres suits four or more.
• How the lid opens. A motion sensor lid opens hands free but adds a motor that can fail. A foot pedal is a mechanical lid, as on the SONGMICS 30 L, Amazon Basics and Maxkon. A press top, as on the Willow, is the simplest, at the cost of touching the lid.
• Single or split. A dual bin splits waste and recycling in one unit. A single bin is simpler if your recycling goes elsewhere.
• Liner compatibility. Look for a removable inner bucket, liner retaining holes, a bag securing hole or a liner ring, and a lid that hides the overhang, as the Joseph Joseph, SONGMICS 30 L and EKO listings describe.
• Material and finish. Steel bodies are listed on the SONGMICS, EKO, Amazon Basics, Joseph Joseph and Maxkon picks, and plastic on the Willow and Glad. The EKO and Amazon Basics listings both describe fingerprint resistant stainless steel.
• Warranty. Joseph Joseph lists 10 years, EKO lists 3 years, the Willow table states no warranty, and we found no warranty wording on the SONGMICS 30 L listing.

How do you stop a kitchen bin from smelling?

Keep food scraps out of the main bag and give the bin an odour feature. The Joseph Joseph lists replaceable activated carbon filters, the SONGMICS 8L lists a tightly sealed lid that contains odours, and the Maxkon table lists an odor seal. Then empty the bin regularly and wash the removable bucket.

A small caddy for peelings, coffee grounds and plate scrapings takes the wettest waste away from the main liner. That is the job of the SONGMICS 8L hanging bin and the 3 litre removable food waste caddy that comes with the Joseph Joseph Totem Compact.

Wash the inner bucket, not just the bag, and dry it before the next liner goes in. Where a listing gives care advice, follow it: the SONGMICS 30 L notes say to wipe the product gently with a damp cloth to keep the steel exterior clean. If your bin uses carbon filters, as the Joseph Joseph does, replace them when they are exhausted.

What else do you need alongside a kitchen bin?

A small second bin for food scraps is the most useful addition, because it takes the wettest waste out of the main bag. Both options below are already in this guide and hang on a cupboard door, so neither needs floor space. Check what your council collects before you choose a split bin.

• SONGMICS Hanging Kitchen Bin 8L is the cupboard door caddy for food scraps, with a tightly sealed lid and a removable inner bucket.
• Glad Roomate Under Counter Trash Can is the 12 litre version of the same idea, with both a door hook and an adhesive hanger included.

For the same decision in other rooms, see our best bathroom bin in Australia guide, and for the sink side of food scraps see our best sink caddy in Australia guide.

Which kitchen bins are not in this guide?

This guide covers the eight bins above and makes no claim about other models. Pull out cabinet bins are left out because they are a cabinet purchase rather than a freestanding bin. Larger siblings and other brands are not among the eight cards, so we have not rated them here.

Pull out cabinet bins. They need your internal cabinet width and runner clearance, so they are a cabinet purchase rather than a bin you can drop into a gap.

Larger bins. If you need more capacity than the Joseph Joseph Totem Compact or the EKO Mirage-T, the Maxkon 60L is the largest pick in this guide.

Kitchen bin questions Australian buyers actually ask

What is the best kitchen bin in Australia?

The SONGMICS 30 L Steel Kitchen Rubbish Bin is the best overall kitchen bin in this guide: a 30 litre steel pedal bin with a soft close lid and a removable inner bucket, holding 4.6 stars from 4,197 ratings on Amazon Australia. If you want a hands free lid instead, the EKO Mirage-T 50L has a motion sensor.

What is the best type of bin to use in a kitchen?

A pedal bin suits most kitchens because the lid opens with your foot, which is why the SONGMICS 30 L is the best overall kitchen bin in this guide. Choose a sensor lid to avoid touching the bin, a dual bin such as the Amazon Basics 30L to split waste and recycling, and a hanging bin for food scraps.

What size kitchen bin do I need in litres?

Choose litres by household size, then check the gap. As a guide, 30 litres like the SONGMICS pick suits one or two people, 50 litres like the EKO Mirage-T suits two to four, and 60 litres like the Maxkon suits four or more. If you want waste and recycling split, choose a dual bin.

Are sensor bins worth it in a kitchen?

Sensor bins can be worth it if you want to avoid touching the bin. The EKO Mirage-T 50L lists a motion sensor lid and a stay open button. The trade off is a motor that can fail: one review on the listing is titled Stopped working after 6 weeks, and the listing shows a 3 year warranty.

What is the best sensor bin in Australia?

On this page the sensor lid choice is the EKO Mirage-T 50L. Its listing names a motion sensor, a stay open button and a removable liner ring, and it holds 4.3 stars from 12,093 ratings. The table lists a 3 year warranty, and a motion sensor opening mechanism.

What are the best brands of kitchen bins?

We checked eight bins from seven brands on Amazon Australia: SONGMICS, EKO, Amazon Basics, Willow, Joseph Joseph, Maxkon and Glad. Choose by lid type, litres and footprint rather than brand, because ratings differ by model. The SONGMICS 30 L and the Glad Roomate both hold 4.6 stars, from 4,197 and 1,554 ratings.

Do bin liners fit these kitchen bins?

Liner fit depends on the bucket, and the bullets of the three bins below give no bag size. The SONGMICS 30 L lists a removable PP plastic inner bucket with a bag securing hole, the Joseph Joseph Totem Compact lists liner retaining holes, and the EKO Mirage-T lists a removable liner ring. Match liners to the bucket litres.

What is the best material for a kitchen bin in Australia?

Steel is the common choice among these eight bins. The EKO Mirage-T and Amazon Basics list stainless steel, the SONGMICS 30 L lists steel and PP plastic, and the Willow Touch Top is listed as plastic. Pick steel for a bin on show, and plastic for a rental or a recycling only bin.

Where should the kitchen bin go in a small kitchen?

Measure the gap first. The SONGMICS 30 L measures 28.5 by 34 by 54.4 centimetres, the EKO Mirage-T 50L is 25.9 wide and 38.4 long, and the Glad Roomate and SONGMICS 8L hang inside a cupboard door. Leave a few centimetres behind the bin so the lid can swing.

What is the best kitchen cupboard bin?

For a cupboard, choose a bin that hangs on the inside of the door. The Glad Roomate lists an over the cabinet door hook and an adhesive hanger, and the SONGMICS 8L hangs on doors up to 2.5 cm thick. A pull out bin that mounts on a runner is a cabinet purchase and sits outside this guide.

How do you clean a kitchen bin?

Take the liner out, lift out the inner bucket and wash it with warm water and dishwashing liquid, then dry it before the new liner goes in. For the steel outside, the SONGMICS 30 L notes say to wipe it gently with a damp cloth, so follow the care notes for your bin.

What is the best kitchen compost bin in Australia?

A kitchen compost bin, or caddy, is a small lidded container that keeps food scraps out of the main bin. The SONGMICS 8L hanging bin lists a tightly sealed lid and a removable inner bucket for the garden compost bin, and the Joseph Joseph Totem Compact includes a 3 litre removable food waste caddy. See our compost bin guide.

What else should you sort out while kitting out the kitchen?

The bin is one line on a much longer list for a new home, and the kitchen is where most of it lands. These are the guides worth reading next, covering the first kitchen list, the first fortnight, cleaning, the compost step and the small kitchen basics that finish the job.

• Kitchen essentials is the master list of what actually goes in a first kitchen, in the order you need it.
• New home checklist covers everything that has to happen in the first fortnight, bins included.
• Best mop in Australia matters more than you think once a bin has leaked on the tiles.
• Best dishwashing tablets in Australia for the other half of the cleanup routine.
• Pantry organisation pairs with this one, because the recycling problem is really a packaging problem.
• Best compost bin in Australia is the next step if scraps go in the garden rather than the green bin.
• Best tea towels in Australia rounds out the kitchen basics.

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first home buyer process. NestPath focuses on Australian first home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au