Kitchen recycling bins: how to choose one for your space

First, decide where your recycling will go

There are three common spots, and each calls for a different kind of bin:

• Inside a cabinet: pull-out systems holding several bins on slides or a frame. They free up floor space and hide the trash, but they need installing and a cabinet with enough clear space.
• On the floor or mounted on a wall: separate bins, one per stream. They are the most flexible option, because you can add or move bins without any installation.
• On the countertop: a small bin for food scraps while you cook, emptied afterward into the right container.

How recycling works in the US

There is no single national list of what goes in the recycling bin. The EPA notes that your local program may have different rules and recommends checking what your community accepts before you put anything in the bin [1]. Collection can be curbside, at drop-off centers or through deposit or refund programs, and not every kind of recyclable is collected in every community [2]. Two EPA points affect a kitchen setup: plastic bags and film cannot go in your household recycling bin, and food scraps cannot be recycled, although they can be composted [1]. Check your city or county program first, then decide how many bins you need.

Pull-out bins for inside a cabinet

They are the neatest option if you have a free cabinet, often under the sink. Before looking at capacity, check three measurements:

• The clear interior width of the cabinet, not its nominal size. HAILO gives a nominal cabinet width from 30 cm (11.8 in) for the AS Tandem; that figure is not the interior clear width.
• The space the system needs. For the Brabantia Sort & Go 2 × 30 liter built-in bin, the manufacturer states a minimum space of 32 × 49 × 64 cm (about 12.6 × 19.3 × 25.2 in, width × depth × height), which is different from its outside dimensions.
• Obstacles: the P-trap, pipes, hinges and the face frame, plus room in front of the cabinet to pull the system all the way out.

How the capacity is split matters too. The HAILO AS Tandem 24/7 pairs a 24 liter bin (about 6.3 gal) with a 7 liter one (about 1.8 gal) and attaches to the cabinet floor; the Brabantia built-in model has two equal 30 liter bins (about 7.9 gal each). Choose according to the stream that takes up the most space in your home, not just the total.

• Brabantia Sort & Go 232527 · double pull-out trash can
• HAILO AS Tandem 24/7 · pull-out recycling bin 3666111

Freestanding or wall-mounted bins, one per stream

The Brabantia Sort & Go line offers single bins of 12, 16, 25 and 40 liters (about 3.2, 4.2, 6.6 and 10.6 gal) in gray and jade green. Because each bin is separate, you can mix sizes: a large one for the stream that fills up first and smaller ones for the rest. The 12 and 16 liter bins include a wall bracket; for the 25 and 40 liter bins the bracket is sold separately, and the manufacturer sets hanging load limits of 10 and 15 kg (about 22 and 33 lb).

• Brabantia Sort & Go 109805 · gray 12 L recycling bin
• Brabantia 109966 · gray 16 L Sort & Go recycling trash can with bracket
• Brabantia 129940 · gray 25 L Sort & Go recycling trash can
• Brabantia 212826 · Jade Green 40 L Sort & Go recycling trash can

Small countertop bins for food scraps

For scraps produced while cooking, a small bin next to the prep area is the practical choice. The Brabantia Sort & Go 3 liter bin has a footprint of 18.8 × 13.9 cm (about 7.4 × 5.5 in); the 6 liter version comes with a bracket so it can hang instead of taking up counter space. A small bin needs emptying often, and neither model turns scraps into compost on its own.

• Brabantia 209888 · gray 3 L Sort & Go food-scrap bin
• Brabantia 109720 · gray 6 L Sort & Go food-scrap bin with bracket

How to split the capacity

There is no single right capacity for every household. A practical way to decide: for one week, notice which stream fills its bag first and how often you empty it. Give the largest bin to that stream and keep the smaller ones for the streams that build up slowly. Liters or gallons do not tell you how much weight a full bag can take, or how much a wall bracket can hold.

Common buying mistakes

• Measuring the cabinet from the outside, or relying on its nominal width instead of the clear space between the sides.
• Forgetting the travel needed to pull the system out and the room to open the door.
• Ignoring the P-trap and pipes under the sink.
• Choosing by total capacity without checking how it is split between bins.
• Assuming the wall bracket is included, or that any wall can hold the weight.

Quick checklist before you buy

• Location decided: cabinet, floor, wall or countertop.
• Clear width, depth and height measured, with obstacles noted.
• Room in front of the cabinet to pull the system all the way out.
• Number of streams and capacity per bin.
• Mounting: freestanding, hung or attached to the cabinet, and whether hardware is included.
• Manufacturer's page for the exact variant: color, capacity and product code.

Sources consulted

• [1] US EPA. How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• [2] US EPA. Recycling Basics and Benefits — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Brabantia Sort & Go 232527, 2 × 30 L — Brabantia
• HAILO AS Tandem 24/7 3666111 — HAILO
• Brabantia Sort & Go 109805, 12 L — Brabantia
• Brabantia Sort & Go 109966, 16 L — Brabantia
• Brabantia Sort & Go 129940, 25 L — Brabantia
• Brabantia Sort & Go 212826, 40 L — Brabantia
• Brabantia Sort & Go 209888, 3 L — Brabantia
• Brabantia Sort & Go 109720, 6 L — Brabantia