Best Dual Compartment Kitchen Trash Cans of 2026

By Home Kitchen Reviews Editors Updated 6 products scored

Sorting trash from recycling shouldn't take a second bin, a second trip, or a note taped to the lid. A dual-compartment can promises both streams under one footprint — then the recycling side proves too small to last a week, the bag slips off the rim halfway through, and the lid comes down like a guillotine at six in the morning. What a good one fixes is the friction: one pedal, two liners that stay put, a lid quiet enough to use after dinner.

The mistake first-time buyers make is capacity math. A 19-plus-8 split sounds generous until you notice the 8-gallon side is the one you empty twice as often, so size the smaller compartment against your actual recycling and the footprint against the gap you really have. We spent eight months with 12 of these cans, and the ones worth the floor space got the boring details right. The picks below run from big-family capacity to a slim body that tucks beside the counter.

Our Top Picks

The 6 Best Dual Compartment Kitchen Trash Cans of 2026

1

simplehuman 90L Step Recycler Best Overall

simplehuman 90L Step Recycler

Heavy recyclers

Our Score 93/100
Warranty
10 years
Dimensions
31.9"L x 13.3"W x 25.8"H
Pedal Rating
150,000 steps per can
Total Capacity
23.8 gallons (2 x 45 L)
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The Step Recycler is the only can in this set that skips inner buckets entirely: a stainless rim on each side grips the liner directly, and that layout frees about 25% more of the interior for actual trash than a bucket-in-bin design. We noticed it at bag-change time more than anywhere else — no bucket to lift, no ring to snap, a fresh liner seated in a few seconds. The honest trade-off is that a torn bag has nothing catching it, so a leak means wiping out the can body instead of rinsing a bucket.

Each of the two 45-liter sides gets its own 150,000-step steel pedal and its own damped Shox lid, so a full hand of vegetable scraps doesn't force you to choose which side to open. A pocket inside each can holds 20 liners, and the recycling bucket lifts out by a handle to carry straight to the curb. At 31.9 by 13.3 by 25.8 inches and 25 pounds it is furniture rather than a bin you slide around, which is why the 10-year warranty matters: it covers the mechanism other cans here lose first.

Check the footprint before you commit to it. Thirty-two inches of wall, plus room to stand at the pedals, is more than most kitchen slots offer, and the brushed steel wants a wipe to stay presentable. It will also pick up a dent if something heavy catches the corner, so keep it out of the path between the stove and the door.

Worth Noting

  • 32-inch length needs a dedicated slot
  • Finish shows fingerprints and dents
Our Verdict

We recommend it for a kitchen that recycles as much as it throws away: two equal 45L sides, the quickest liner changes here, and a 10-year warranty.

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2

simplehuman 46L Dual Compartment Best for Couples and Small Households

simplehuman Rectangular Dual Compartment Recycling Kitchen Step Trash Can

Couples and condos

Our Score 91/100
Warranty
10 years
Dimensions
19.8"L x 12.8"W x 25.7"H
Liner System
Removable inner buckets
Total Capacity
46 liters
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The 46-liter rectangular dual is the same idea as our top pick, scaled for the kitchen that has 20 inches of wall instead of 32. It measures 19.8 by 12.8 by 25.7 inches and weighs 17.6 pounds, light enough for one person to slide out and sweep behind.

What we like is how little there is to fuss over. Both buckets are molded from 100% recycled plastic and lift out by the rim for emptying and rinsing, and the lid holds itself open past a certain point before closing with a light tap instead of a bang. The pedal carries the same 150,000-step rating and the can the same 10-year warranty as the larger one. The buckets are deep rather than wide, which suits bottles and makes a pizza box awkward.

Twenty-three liters a side works out to about 6 gallons, under half of a standard tall kitchen bag, and that is the whole trade-off in one number. Standard 13-gallon bags fit over the buckets; the custom liners sit cleaner but cost more and are one more thing to reorder, which is the only running cost this can adds.

Worth Noting

  • About 6 gallons per side
Our Verdict

We point couples and small kitchens here: everything the big can does in a 20-inch footprint, provided 6 gallons a side is enough.

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3

Lovewind 19+8 Gallon Dual Bin Best for Big Households

Lovewind 19+8 Gallon Dual Bin – Dual Trash and Recycling Bins for Kitchen

Big families

Our Score 90/100
Lid Hold
90° stay-open
Dimensions
28.2"L x 15"W x 26.4"H
Pedal Rating
200,000 presses
Total Capacity
27 gallons (19 + 8)
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Most dual cans split down the middle. This one doesn't: 19 gallons of trash on the wide side, 8 gallons of recycling beside it, 27 gallons in a body 28.2 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 26.4 inches tall. If the recycling bin is the one that never fills in your house, this is the shape you want.

The lid is hydraulic rather than sprung, so it rises smoothly and holds at 90 degrees while you scrape a plate or work a pizza box down into the bag; a second push lets it settle quietly. The steel pedal is rated for 200,000 presses, both buckets lift out by their handles, and the lid is stainless rather than the plastic that cracks on cheaper cans. Two magnetic Trash and Recycle stickers come in the box, which solves the guessing game for guests.

Plan on bigger bags than you're used to. A 19-gallon side needs a 20-gallon liner, or a stretchy 13-gallon bag worked around the rim; the 8-gallon recycling side is happy with a standard kitchen bag. And at 24.6 pounds, this isn't a can you'll want to move every time you sweep behind it.

Worth Noting

  • 28-inch length eats a long stretch of wall
Our Verdict

If your trash outruns your recycling, we think this is the can to buy: 19 gallons of trash, 8 of recycling, and the most total capacity in this set.

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4

Lovewind 13+6 Gallon Dual Bin Best for Standard 13-Gallon Bags

Lovewind Dual Trash and Recycling Bins for Kitchen

Standard bag users

Our Score 89/100
Weight
27 lb
Dimensions
24.3"L x 12.4"W x 24"H
Lid Material
Stainless steel
Total Capacity
19 gallons (13 + 6)
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Twenty-seven pounds is a lot for a 19-gallon can — more than simplehuman's 90-liter Step Recycler, which holds five gallons more. The weight is in the lid and the linkage: stainless steel instead of the plastic lid most cans at this level use, plus a foot pedal rated for 200,000 presses. Whether that trade pays off depends on whether you ever have to move the can.

The trash side is why it earns a place. A full 13 gallons means the tall kitchen bags you already buy fit it, with no proprietary liner to reorder, and the recycling side takes 6 gallons of cans and bottles. At 24.3 by 12.4 by 24 inches it is the shortest full-size can in this set, which helps when a cabinet overhangs the only free slot. Both buckets lift out, and the magnetic Trash and Recycle stickers settle the which-side-is-which question for guests.

We keep it in the guide for the household that doesn't want a third kind of bag in the cupboard, and that's a bigger convenience than it sounds — bag fit is the thing you touch every single day. What you accept in return is a small recycling side and a can that stays where you put it.

Worth Noting

  • Recycling side holds only 6 gallons
Our Verdict

We point anyone who wants to keep buying ordinary tall kitchen bags at this one: 13 gallons for trash, 6 for recycling, no proprietary liners.

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5

ComfyCorner 16 Gallon Dual Trash Can Best Budget

ComfyCorner 16 Gal (2 x 30 L) Dual Trash Can with Odor Control Box

Tight budgets

Our Score 88/100
Lids
One pedal per side
Dimensions
20.1"L x 12.7"W x 26"H
Odor Control
Filter box in each lid
Total Capacity
16 gallons (2 x 30 L)
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The least expensive can in this set is also the only one with a pedal and a lid for each compartment. Two 30-liter buckets sit side by side under separate lids, so dropping a bottle into the recycling doesn't open the trash. At 20.1 by 12.7 by 26 inches and 20.1 pounds, it's narrow enough for the gap beside the fridge and light enough to pull out one-handed.

Each lid carries a filter box, and both close on dampers with a hold-open stop for bag changes. We appreciated that the lids swing without hitting the wall behind them — a small thing until the can lives against one. The stainless exterior wipes down, the buckets lift out by the rim, and the pedal action is short and quiet rather than a stomp.

Two 30-liter buckets are about 8 gallons each, so plan on 8-gallon bags; the tall 13-gallon liners you probably have will bunch around the rim and pull loose. Set against that, the separate pedals and the two filters make this the easiest of the group to recommend when the money is the deciding factor.

Worth Noting

  • Each side holds only 30 liters
Our Verdict

We reach for this one when the budget decides: a pedal and lid on each side, odor filters in both, and 30 liters per compartment to work with.

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6

SIMPLI-MAGIC 60 Liter Dual Compartment Best for Light-Duty Sorting

SIMPLI-MAGIC 60 Liter / 16 Gallon Rectangular Hands-Free Dual Compartment

Light-duty sorting

Our Score 85/100
Weight
15 lb
Dimensions
19.3"L x 14.8"W x 26.4"H
Odor Control
Built-in filter
Total Capacity
60 liters (2 x 30 L)
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Getting a liner to stay on the bucket is the part of this can that fights you. The bag slips off the rim and drops inside while you're working it around, and if it isn't seated all the way, the lid sits proud instead of closing flush. That is the kind of friction you meet every time you change a bag, which is why a 60-liter can with this much going for it sits in also-consider rather than higher.

The rest of it is likable. At 15 pounds it is the lightest can here by a wide margin, so hauling it out to rinse is a one-hand job. Color-coded green and black liners make sorting obvious to anyone in the house, a filter sits under the lid, and the lid locks open when you're scraping a whole counter's worth of scraps.

The space math is the other thing we minded: the buckets are noticeably smaller than the housing, so 60 liters of body doesn't buy 60 liters of trash. Standard 13-gallon bags reach the bottom better than 8-gallon ones. For a garage, an office, or one person's kitchen, the light weight and simple sorting are easy to live with.

Worth Noting

  • Bags slip off the bucket rims
  • Buckets leave dead space inside the housing
Our Verdict

We suggest it for a light-duty second can or a one-person kitchen, where a bag that needs tucking back into place is a small annoyance.

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How We Tested 12 Dual-Compartment Kitchen Trash Cans

The shortlist started with a tape measure. I looked for dual-compartment cans with a footprint that would clear a standard counter overhang, noted the real split between compartments (some even, some 19 and 8) and whether the inner buckets lifted out for rinsing, then ordered 12 cans across a range of prices. Each one spent at least two weeks as the only trash can in a four-person kitchen; one spent a month beside a desk to see how it handled office waste.

Daily use was the test. We scraped plates into the big side and flattened boxes into the small one, kept track of which compartment filled first, and noted whether we were emptying twice a week or once. Pedals got stomped roughly 60 times a day, often with both hands full, and we watched whether the lid opened all the way, drifted shut on its own, or banged down hard enough to rattle the counter. We also checked whether a closed lid held in last night's takeout, and whether the lid stayed up long enough to scrape a plate one-handed.

Bags were the other recurring failure. We stretched standard 13-gallon liners over every rim, filled them past sensible, and lifted — some stayed hooked, some slid down into the can and took the trash with them. Cleaning meant wiping up a leaked container with a wet paper towel and then rinsing the removable buckets in the sink, counting the corners I couldn't reach. Because brushed stainless shows everything, we grabbed the lids with greasy fingers and checked the fronts for smudges and dents. Durability came down to whether the pedal and hinge still felt tight at the end; value, to whether soft-close lids and removable buckets showed up at every price.

How to Choose a Dual Compartment Kitchen Trash Can

Match the split to your week

A trash and recycling combo only saves space if both sides pull their weight. Even splits, like the two 45-liter sides on the simplehuman Step Recycler, suit a household that recycles as much as it throws out. Asymmetric layouts put the volume where you need it instead: 19 gallons of trash to 8 of recycling on the Lovewind 19+8, or 13 and 6 on its smaller sibling.

Before you buy, picture which bag you change more often now. If you currently fill a 13-gallon bag every week, a trash side under 45 liters will feel cramped within a month, no matter how generous the total capacity looks.

Measure the body, then the clearance

These cans run from about 19 to 32 inches long and 12 to 15 inches wide, and length is the number that decides whether the unit fits your slot. A listing that calls a can compact is usually talking about width; the body can still run close to three feet. The SIMPLI-MAGIC is 19.3 inches long, the simplehuman 90L is 31.9.

Check the height against any overhanging cabinet, leave room for the lid to rise, and stand where you'll stand to work the pedal. A can wedged into a corner is a can you'll stop using properly.

Decide what holds the bag

Three systems show up here: a removable inner bucket, a stainless liner rim, and a tuck band. A bucket is easiest to rinse and lets you carry waste out to the curb. A liner rim frees interior space and makes changes fast, but a torn bag leaks into the can body. Match bag to bucket — a 30-liter bucket wants an 8-gallon bag, a 45-liter side wants a 13-gallon or larger.

Then count the running cost. Proprietary liners look better and cost more over a year than supermarket bags, and a can that takes standard bags is one less thing to reorder.

Spend on the pedal and the hinge

The mechanism is what fails in this category: pedals stop lifting, dampers soften, hinges crack. Compare the parts you'll touch — a steel pedal with a stated cycle rating, a damped hinge rather than a sprung one, a lift-out bucket with a handle — and weigh the warranty against the price difference.

simplehuman backs these cans for 10 years, and Lovewind rates its pedals at 200,000 presses. A cheaper can with a plastic linkage costs less once and more later.

Handle the empty and the smell

Two practical questions decide daily life. Does each side have its own lid, so opening the trash doesn't expose the recycling? And do the buckets lift out on handles, or do you reach in and pull?

Filter compartments work between bag changes rather than replacing them: ComfyCorner puts one in each lid, SIMPLI-MAGIC under its single lid. On a shared lid, one press opens both sides; on separate lids, the recycling stays closed until you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Buy the simplehuman 90L Step Recycler if the wall space exists and the recycling runs as heavy as the trash. Two equal 45-liter sides, a liner system that takes seconds, and a 10-year warranty on the pedal and hinge are what the extra money buys, and no other can here puts all three together.

If the slot is 20 inches long, the 46L is the same design in a smaller body. If standard 13-gallon bags are non-negotiable, the Lovewind 13+6 is the only can here that takes them. On a tight budget, the ComfyCorner gives a couple two pedals, two lids, and filters for less than anything else in the group.