Best Recycling Bins

Easily separate your trash from recyclables with the iTouchless Dual Step Trash Can & Recycle Bin. Each section holds an 8-gallon container that holds liners if you choose to use them and are easy to remove to dump individually. There are several other options for holding your recyclable until trash day. Here are a few more to consider. 

This dual trash can and recycle bin is the best on the market. The iTouchless holds a combined 16 gallons of recyclables and trash, though you can use it exclusively for sorting recycles, too. Each side of the bin has its own lid and step pedal-style opening. Each side also has a removable bin, one blue and one black, to help with separating. The outside has a smudge-proof stainless steel finish that is easy to clean up and looks nice in most kitchens. There is a filtration system to help neutralize odors with removable filters. The only drawback is because each side only holds 8 gallons of material, this may not be big enough to use as intended as a dual trash can and recycle bin. Many households need a much bigger container for holding garbage. 

The Genuine Joe recycle bin holds up to 28 gallons of material. It’s made from heavy-duty plastic, so you don’t have to worry about it rusting or becoming crushed. It has the recycle symbol on the side and is the tell-tale blue color that distinguishes it from your trash can. This large capacity bin is good for in an office building where there is a lot of recyclables but it is also suitable in a home. The rectangle shape makes it easier to carry and lift when it’s time to be emptied, but the slimmer shape isn’t the easiest to pack material in. You’ll find, especially if you use bin liners, that there is a lot of empty space and it’s harder to compact recyclables into it. 

This is the perfect sized recycle bin to place beside your desk. It is compact and holds only 7 gallons of recyclables, but that is a lot for a single worker. And when it is time to empty the bin it won’t be too heavy. The bin is small enough to fit into garbage drawers in kitchens, too. This United Solutions wastebasket has the recycle symbol on its side and is a bright blue color so it’s easier to distinguish it from a traditional garbage can. It’s made from durable plastic that is easy to clean when it gets dirty. It doesn’t come with a lid, nor does it have a filtering system to help neutralize odors. 

Recycling isn’t just for paper, plastic, and glass. You can turn kitchen scraps, like apple cores, banana peels, and cherry pits into compost for your garden. The Abakoo compost bin sits on your countertop or under your sink for an easy to reach place to gather your organic recyclables. It holds over a gallon of scaps, which is about a week’s worth, so you don’t have to head out to the garden to dump it frequently. The handle has a rubberized grip to help you keep a firm hold on the bis are you move it. And it has a charcoal filtering system, along with four filters, to neutralize odors and keep your kitchen smelling okay. The filters aren’t reusable, so it will cost a bit to purchase more and keep up with the smell. 

These recycle bins help you separate your materials before you get to the recycling center. Each bin is a heavy-duty bag with handles to carry them individually, but they attach side-by-side to each other using velcro strips. The containers hold about 10 gallons each and are clearly marked with what should be collected in them - glass, paper, plastic, and cans. While these bags shouldn’t be washed in a washing machine, they are made with a material that is easy to simply wipe down if they get dirty. Also, it will take several uses before they stand up straight when empty. 

This recycle bin from Rubbermaid is designed to hold a lot of items outside your home, so you don’t need a big, overpowering bin inside the house. It’s on wheels to make it easier to haul to the curb on trash day and heavy-duty plastic to reduce rusting, fading, warping, or cracking in extreme weather conditions. The base is reinforced to hold several gallons of recyclables. This bin has contoured handles on either side so it feels more natural to carry without putting too much strain on your hands. It’s designed to be stackable with more bins when not in use and has clips on each side to hold bags or liners without them slipping as the bin is filled. There are different sizes of this outdoor bin with the largest sizes ranging from 20 gallons to 55 gallons. You also have nine color and design choices. It does come with a lid that isn’t very thick and isn’t attached to the bin itself. This means you will need to keep an eye on it while it’s off so it doesn’t get lost. 

Bottom line

One of the best ways to show concern for the environment is to recycle plastic, paper, cans, and glass. The iTouchless 16 Gallon Dual Step Trash Can & Recycle Bin makes this easy by giving your two bins in one holder, one for trash and one for recyclables. Each side has a different colored bin and can be removed and emptied individually. You open each side with its own pedal-style step and if you use liners for either or both of the bins, removing them won't interfere with the other bin and bag. Together this recycle bin holds 16 gallons, but it limits each side to 8 gallons. For several households, this may not be big enough and will require frequent emptying before trash day.