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If you're shopping for a new kitchen trash can — because the one you have can't be opened without touching it, or because it doesn't match your local sorting rules — you'll run into a wide range of shapes: pedal-operated bins, simple ones you just push open, and units with a row of sorting drawers, all of which make comparison tricky. Kitchen trash cans broadly fall into three types: pedal-type (open and close without using your hands), flap-type (a simple lid that opens with a push), and sorting-drawer type (split into multiple compartments to match your local sorting categories) — and which one you choose changes your day-to-day convenience. Here we compare four products on five spec items: sorting, footprint, capacity, opening and care.
Our Picks — The Right One for You
Iris Plaza AFB-C12DBR
- Capacity12 L
Pedal-operated, and the lid closes slowly on a gas damper. The inner container lifts out for washing. 12 L, about 25 cm wide.
Like-it BS-3
- OpeningDrawers (3 tiers)
- Capacity42 L (14 L × 3 tiers)
- MaterialPolypropylene
Three drawers (14 L × 3, 42 L in total) with hooks to hang bags on. A slim 17 cm wide.
ideaco TUBELOR kitchen flap
- OpeningPush-open (one-touch)
- Capacity8.5 L
A push-open lid, and the cover hides the bag. A slit lets you sort with two bags. The smallest footprint of the four (about 473 cm²); capacity is 8.5 L.
SONGMICS LTB254EZ01
- Capacity3 × 18 L (54 L in total)
Three compartments (3 × 18 L, 54 L in total) with a pedal and a soft-close lid. Highest Spec Score of the four. It is 62 cm wide, so it needs space.
Pros and Cons of Kitchen Trash Cans
Here's a summary of what tends to satisfy people after buying, and what's worth checking before you do.
Pros
- With a pedal-type can, you can open and close it without getting your hands dirty
- Sorting-drawer types often match your local sorting categories right out of the box
- You can choose a capacity that matches how much trash your household produces
Cons
- Horizontal sorting types need more width
- If you're not unhappy with your current capacity or sorting setup, replacing it isn't a high priority
- Moving parts such as pedal or flap hinges can wear faster if handled roughly
How to Choose a Kitchen Trash Can: 6 Points
Here are 6 points to check before you buy. The figures in the diagrams come from the official and retail-page specs of the products in this article.
Know the Lid and Opening Types
Pedal, flap (push to open) and drawer types differ in how they are used and how much space they need. The products in this article cover all three.
Related pickSONGMICS LTB254EZ01 / Iris Plaza AFB-C12DBR（Opening 4/5）
Ease of Sorting
To match your local sorting rules, look at how many compartments you can sort into. The method differs by product: drawers, buckets, or a slit in the body.
Related pickSONGMICS LTB254EZ01 / Like-it BS-3（Sorting 5/5）
Match Capacity to Your Household's Waste
A small can needs emptying more often; a large one takes up room. For sorting types, look at both the total and the size of each compartment.
Related pickSONGMICS LTB254EZ01（Capacity 5/5）
Space You Need
If it goes into a gap in the kitchen, compare the outer width × depth (footprint). Also leave room for the pedal or drawers to move, and check the height.
Related pickideaco TUBELOR kitchen flap（Footprint 5/5）
Ease of Cleaning
A trash can is used every day, so how easy it is to wash and to handle the bag decides whether you stay happy with it. We look at four things.
Opening and Care Features
Pedal, slow-closing lid, lid, washability and more, in one table.
Related pickSONGMICS LTB254EZ01 / Iris Plaza AFB-C12DBR（Opening 4/5）
Spec Score Ranking
→ Swipe sideways to see the full table. Use the buttons to re-sort. Click a product name for details. You can also sort by clicking a column heading.
| Rank | Product | Buy (prices as of date shown) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SONGMICSLTB254EZ01Pedal type (3 compartments) | 3.60 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | See on Amazon¥13,481See on Rakuten¥14,980Price as of 2026-09-04 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 2 | Like-itBS-3Sorting drawers (slim, 3 tiers) | 3.05 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | See on Amazon¥5,173See on Rakuten¥5,445Price as of 2026-09-04 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 3 | Iris PlazaAFB-C12DBRPedal type (round, single compartment) | 2.95 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | See on Amazon¥2,808See on Rakuten¥3,600Price as of 2026-09-04 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 4 | ideacoTUBELOR kitchen flapFlap type (push to open) | 2.70 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | See on Amazon¥5,000See on Rakuten¥5,500Price as of 2026-09-04 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
Prices are as of 2026-09-04. They change with sales and stock, so please check the current price on the linked page.
A "–" in the table means the manufacturer and retail pages do not list that item (it is not counted in the score).
What each criterion means, and its weight
Each criterion is scored 1 to 5 and the overall score is the weighted average. The exact thresholds are in How the Spec Score Is Calculated.
- Sortingweight 25%
- Number of compartments you can sort into (drawers, buckets or slit)
- Footprintweight 20%
- Footprint (outer width × depth, cm², rounded)
- Capacityweight 15%
- Total capacity of all compartments (L)
- Openingweight 20%
- Opening (starts at 1 point, +1 for each that applies)
- Care and bag handlingweight 20%
- Care and bag handling (starts at 1 point, +1 per listed item, max 5)
- Overall Spec Score
- Shown only when at least 4 of the 5 criteria have a score; the weighted average is taken over the criteria that do.
Compare 2 to 3 products side by side
Tick "Add to compare" in the table above and the products appear here (up to 3).
Product Notes
SONGMICS・Pedal type (3 compartments)
SONGMICS LTB254EZ01
- Sorting5/5
- Footprint1/5
- Capacity5/5
- Opening4/5
- Care and bag handling3/5
Good forBest if you don't want to give up either sorting or a pedal
Good points
- Three compartments (3 × 18 L, 54 L in total), the largest capacity of the four
- Pedal-operated, with a soft-close lid that can also be held open at 90°
- The inner buckets lift out and have side handles; the body and lid are stainless steel
Things to note
- At W62 × D35.3 cm it has the largest footprint of the four
- At 8.3 kg it is heavy
Like-it・Sorting drawers (slim, 3 tiers)
Like-it BS-3
- Sorting5/5
- Footprint3/5
- Capacity4/5
- Opening1/5
- Care and bag handling2/5
Good forBest for sorting precisely to match your local rules
Good points
- Three drawers (14 L × 3, 42 L in total) for sorting
- Bags hang on hooks inside each drawer, so one drawer can even hold several kinds of waste
- A slim 17 cm wide
Things to note
- You pull it open by hand, so it cannot be opened hands-free like a pedal bin
- At H88.1 × D46.5 cm it is tall, so check the space you have
Iris Plaza・Pedal type (round, single compartment)
Iris Plaza AFB-C12DBR
- Sorting1/5
- Footprint4/5
- Capacity2/5
- Opening4/5
- Care and bag handling4/5
Good forBest if you want to open and close it by pedal without touching it
Good points
- Pedal-operated, and the lid closes slowly and quietly with a gas damper
- The inner container lifts out and can be washed
- Has a carrying handle and weighs about 1.6 kg
Things to note
- Only one compartment for sorting
- At 12 L it holds less than the 42 L and 54 L models
ideaco・Flap type (push to open)
ideaco TUBELOR kitchen flap
- Sorting3/5
- Footprint5/5
- Capacity1/5
- Opening2/5
- Care and bag handling2/5
Good forBest if simple looks are your priority
Good points
- A push-open lid, and the cover hides the bag
- The slit at the center holds two bags, so one unit can sort waste
- The smallest footprint of the four (W31.5 × D15 cm), and washable
Things to note
- At 8.5 L it is the smallest of the four
- You push it open by hand, so it is not hands-free
What to Look at When Choosing
The comparison scores five items from retail-page specs (the criteria table is at the end of the article).
Sorting (number of compartments) / Footprint (width × depth) / Capacity (total of all compartments) / Opening (pedal, damper, lid) / Care and bag handling (washable, inner container, hooks, handle)
Who Kitchen Trash Cans Are a Good Fit For — and Who Should Consider Other Options
As a category, kitchen trash cans tend to work well for the following people.
Good fit if you...
- Want to open and close the bin without touching it
- Want it to match your local council's sorting rules directly
- Want a capacity matched to how much waste your household produces
Consider other options if you...
- Are happy with your current bin's capacity and how easy it is to sort into
- Put durability of the moving parts first (pedals and hinges can wear with long use)
- Have limited space and cannot give up the width a sorting drawer unit needs
Handling Tips for Moving Parts, Drawers and Stainless Steel
In general, the moving parts that connect the pedal or lid to the body (a metal rod or plastic hinge) can loosen or snap if forced, so operating them gently helps them last. For sorting-drawer types, avoid overloading them with heavy trash and empty them regularly to spare the tabs and hooks on the drawers. For stainless steel models, wiping off moisture after use is a good precaution.
Best Pick by Situation
If you want a pedal and 12 L is enough, Iris Plaza AFB-C12DBR is the pick. If you want to match your local sorting rules precisely, go with Like-it BS-3. If simple looks are your priority, ideaco TUBELOR kitchen flap is the candidate. And if you want both sorting and pedal operation, SONGMICS LTB254EZ01 (pedal, 3 compartments) fits the bill.
First Steps After You Buy
After setting it up, testing the pedal or lid's movement a few times and checking for sticking or unusual noise helps you catch any early defects. For sorting types, tracking the actual amount of trash you produce for about a week makes it easier to judge whether each compartment's capacity fits your household. For stainless steel models, quickly wiping off moisture after use is a good precaution.
How the Spec Score Is Calculated
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5, and the overall score is the weighted average. We use the manufacturer's official figures; where the official site could not be read, we fill in from Amazon, Rakuten Ichiba, Kakaku.com and similar retail or comparison pages (only pages that match the exact model number). A criterion with no published figure is left out and the average is taken over the rest (for care and features, only items that are actually listed earn points).
| Sorting (25% weight) | Number of compartments you can sort into (drawers, buckets or slit) 3 or more = 5 / 2 = 3 / 1 = 1 |
|---|---|
| Footprint (20% weight) | Footprint (outer width × depth, cm², rounded) 500 cm² or less = 5 / 650 = 4 / 900 = 3 / 1,200 = 2 / above = 1 |
| Capacity (15% weight) | Total capacity of all compartments (L) 50 L or more = 5 / 35+ = 4 / 20+ = 3 / 10+ = 2 / below = 1 |
| Opening (20% weight) | Opening (starts at 1 point, +1 for each that applies) (1) opens hands-free, e.g. by pedal (2) a damper that closes the lid slowly is listed (3) has a lid |
| Care and bag handling (20% weight) | Care and bag handling (starts at 1 point, +1 per listed item, max 5) Washable / removable inner container or buckets / hooks to hang the bag / carrying handle |
Summary
This comparison uses published specs, not hands-on impressions. Decide how many sorting compartments you need and how much space you have, then look at the opening type and capacity.
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Update history
Show update history (2)
- Rewritten on the new template (Spec Score, product detail pages).
- Display improvements (summary at the top, ranking cards, sortable comparison table with side-by-side compare, in-page navigation). Scores, prices and links are unchanged.