10 Best Dual Trash Can | Reviews + Buyer’s Guide

Some options may have a low capacity, while others may take up too much space. Seeing as these are dual trash cans, the perfect balance of footprint and capacity between each compartment is essential.

With so many factors like pet-proofing and accessibility to take into consideration spread across various manufacturers, it can be confusing to find the perfect one for you. If this sounds like your current predicament, you are in luck. We have gathered the top dual trash can models on the market and what features to look out for in a buyer's guide.

So, that being said, let's get right into it!

Listed below are the 5 best dual trash cans from our list:

• Home Zone Dual Trash Can - 13 Gal / 50 L. Home Zone has produced a sturdy, high-capacity, and convenient model with a small footprint. Known for its rectangular step design, built-in bag tuck band, and dampened closing lid, the Home Zone Dual Trash Can is excellent for kitchen use even if the lid squeaks when closing.
• Songmics Trash Can With Two Compartments - 16 Gal / 60 L. Songmics offers an all-steel, sleek dual-step trash can that boasts a tight seal acting as a deodorizer, making it great for odor control. The durable and streamlined SONGMICS Trash Can stands out for its silent lid and multiple applications despite its minimal capacity.
• Simplehuman Rectangular Dual Compartment Trash Can - 12 Gal/ 46 L. Celebrated for its Shox technology and engineered foot pedal, the Simplehuman dual-compartment trash can delivers excellent longevity and smooth operation. Ideal for heavy-duty usage, this Simplehuman model emphasizes easy emptying and movement with rubber pads and a removable bucket, although its narrow, tall design could limit the size of the waste and its placement.
• NINESTARS Automatic Dual Compartment Trash Can -18.5 Gal / 70 L. NINESTARS offers a high-tech experience with its infrared motion sensor dual trash can. The stainless steel NINESTARS Automatic Dual Compartment Trash Can shines for its fingerprint-proof, water-resistant, and hands-free design, offering a superior experience despite its battery maintenance.
• RecycleBoxBin Double Recycling Bin - 33 Gal / 125 L. Ideal for large volume waste management because of its 50-gallon capacity, the RecycleBoxBin Double Recycling Bin simplifies rubbish removal with its bottomless design. The lightweight and durable RecycleBoxBin is prized for its easy cleaning and bag-holding features, even if it lacks rubber grips for stability.

Whether it's for your kitchen, office, or any other space, having dual trash can make your waste disposal routine a breeze. To help you find the best options available, here's the list of the 10 best Dual Trash Cans.

1. Home Zone Dual Trash Can - 13 Gal / 50 L - Best for Kitchen Use

When it comes to a dual-compartment trash can, Home Zone offers an incredible 13-gallon capacity model that has separate compartments to accommodate a recycling bin and trash bags. With the built-in bag tuck band to help change the bags and durable construction, this is one of the best dual kitchen trash cans out there today.

Home Zone has decided to go with the rectangular step trash cans in this model to help keep the footprint as minimal as possible. This compact design makes it a great option to use as a kitchen trash can as it fits snugly under a kitchen island or flat against the wall. There are eight gallons of waste, while the recycling bin can hold a bit over five gallons for a combined total of 13-gallon capacity.

Additionally, the inner bucket uses custom-fit liners to help you sort trash more easily. The bag tuck bands also keep the trash bag in place, so when you need to throw trash out, you won't have to go digging to find the edges of the bag.

Another feature that makes this Home Zone model stand out from other dual trash cans is the dampened closing lid. When this hinge is combined with the durable heavy pedal, it makes for a seamless movement to quickly open the lid.

A minor inconvenience that many users found in the Home Zone double trash can was the fact that the lid makes a slight squeak when closing. This could be due to a dry hinge, so if you want a model where the lid closes silently, you may want to take this into consideration.

2. Songmics Trash Can With Two Compartments - 16 Gal / 60 L - Best for Odor-Control

This dual-step trash can from SONGMICS has a sleek all-steel design and can hold up to 16 gallons of trash and recyclable waste. Featuring two ABS plastic buckets with metal handles and a soft closure system, taking out the trash has never been so seamless.

After a few days of use, we found that the tight seal on this dual-step trash can acts as a built-in deodorizer compartment to keep the smells contained. This allows you to place it in either a kitchen or just as a regular trash can around the house.

As for the build, the ULTB60NL is a durable trash can, to say the least. Not only is it robust, but the stainless steel finish allows it to remain fingerprint-proof and sleek for longer.

Furthermore, throwing trash away is easier with a silent lid that isn't intrusive to use. By having two separate step cans with their own pedals, the regular trash and the recycling will remain in their own trash bags.

If there were one drawback to using this stainless steel trash can, it would be the fact that it has a minimal capacity. Using a small size of trash can be helpful in a small space; however, it also means frequent emptying if there is a lot of waste to throw away.

3. Simplehuman Rectangular Dual Compartment  Trash Can - 12 Gal/ 46 L - Best for Heavy-Duty Usage

Simplehuman has designed one of the best dual trash cans to give a lasting quality performance. It uses its own Shox technology to have a dampened closing motion on the lid, while the foot pedal has been engineered to last over 150,000 steps.

One of the highlight features of the CW1830 is the Shox technology that has been incorporated into the lid of the dual garbage can. The hinges of the trash can will gently bring the lid down and dampen once it reaches the closed position, making for a slow and silent closing motion.

Furthermore, the lid can be set to remain open for as long as you need. This definitely comes in handy when you need to dump a lot of trash during chores like cooking or cleaning.

Another helpful feature that improves the user experience is the rubber pads on the base and the removable bucket inside. Both of these features make emptying out the waste and recycle bin without the unit tipping over or moving.

Despite having a plethora of valuable features, the CW1830 is limited in terms of how large the openings for disposal are. The body is narrow, meaning more oversized items may not fit. On top of that, the placement of this double trash can becomes limited due to the tall design it has.

4. NINESTARS Automatic Dual Compartment Trash Can -18.5 Gal / 70 L - Best for Touchless Operation

A modern design combined with modern features, this stainless steel trash can from NINESTARS uses an infrared motion sensor to open and close the lid. Anyone looking for a truly hands-free experience will definitely want to check out this double trash can that is both silent and robust.

Of course, the main feature of this dual trash can has to be the infrared sensor feature that activates when you approach the unit. However, what makes it unique is the delayed activation of said sensor. This feature prevents accidentally opening the lid due to accidentally walking by the unit and saves a bit of battery in the process.

Additionally, the NINESTARS dual trash can has a removable ring liner that holds trash bags in place and keeps them from bunching up at the top. Maintaining a sleek and clean appearance is a crucial focus with such high-tech features built into it.

Overall, this double trash can has an outstanding construction in terms of materials used and construction quality. Not only is it fingerprint-proof, but the sensors themselves are water-resistant to protect against accidental spills and wet waste, making for a genuinely durable trash can.

Seeing as the NINESTARS double trash can features motorized parts, it does require a source of power in the form of batteries. As such, it has an additional layer of maintenance to buy replacements when the four batteries are out of juice.

5. RecycleBoxBin Double Recycling Bin - 33 Gal / 125 L  - Best for High Capacity Usage

Designed to accommodate more material than a standard kitchen trash can, the CP2 from RecycleBoxBin has an incredible 50-gallon capacity, 25 gallons each for the trash cans and recycling bin. With the option to place labels on top of each compartment, this unit is ideal for public buildings and offices.

Removing heavy trash bags from the CP2 is much easier than standard pull-out trash cans as it features a bottomless design. Simply lift the body off of the base to access the bags for disposal; no need to go digging or take the entire trash can apart every time it is full.

Using such a unique method of disposal, the question of leaks from wet waste comes to mind. The CP2 tackles this problem by using a 1.5-inch high base pan to act as the inner buckets and catch any runoff. It also holds the bags in place when you are emptying out the trash can and recycling bin.

Since plastic is the primary material in construction, this dual trash and recycling bin unit is relatively easy to clean. The plastic is both durable and lightweight to help you take full advantage of the bottomless design.

A feature that we would have liked to be included in the CP2 is rubber grips on the underside of the unit. As it is able to hold more material and has a unique disposal method, including rubber grips would have improved the stability while emptying out the trash bags.

6. Rubbermaid Elite Dual Step-on Trash Can - 10.5 Gal / 40 L

One trash can that stands out from the competition thanks to its elegant charcoal finish on a stainless steel body is this dual kitchen trash can from Rubbermaid. This finish allows it to remain fingerprint-proof and smudge-free to complement the smooth opening and closing lid.

What makes this Rubbermaid kitchen trash can an outstanding model is the minimal amount of maintenance it requires. As it has a darker sheen, any blemishes are not as noticeable compared to lighter stainless steel models.

Another feature that makes this one of the best dual trash cans out there is the color coding in the pocket liners. Black is designated for waste, while blue is indicative of a recycling bin, making trash sorting more streamlined.

Taking out the trash bags is also more accessible using the built-in bag cinch on the top of the dual trash cans. These cinches keep the edges of the bag from falling deeper into the bin. They also help you hide the straps of the trash bags to maintain a clean look.

While a sleek design may look nice, it does come with its share of drawbacks as well. For one, the Rubbermaid trash can lid lies flush on the top of the unit. Accessing the bins is only possible with the pedal, and any large items will keep the lid slightly propped open.

7. AmazonBasics Dual Trash Can - 13 Gal / 50 L

A dual trash can from the AmazonBasics line, this model has a straightforward design that incorporates all the features you need for disposing of trash and recycling. Featuring a soft opening and closing mechanism as well as plastic liner buckets to catch leaks, this stainless steel dual trash can is a great go-to option.

One of the features we found to be incredibly useful in the AmazonBasics dual trash can was the two inner buckets. Each bucket has holes on the back to keep the trash bag tightly secured until they are filled and ready for disposal. They both have a plastic construction and metal handles to ensure a longer lifespan and easier cleaning as well.

Furthermore, the body of the trash can is stainless steel, which allows it to remain clean and free from smudges and fingerprints for longer. What's more, the brushed finish makes it relatively low maintenance, with any leaks easily wiped off with a damp cloth.

As for the opening and closing mechanism, the wide foot pedal allows for quick and easy access to either compartment trash bin. It opens and closes softly as well, which not only makes for a quieter experience but also extends the lifespan of the trash can as well.

Although the AmazonBasics dual trash can has all the essential features of a trash can, some may find the holding capacity to be lacking. As it uses a separated compartment trash and recycling bin design, it can not hold much and may need regular emptying.

8. Kohler Dual Trash Can - 11 Gal / 42 L

Kohler is a brand that is well-known for its quality products, a streak that is continued in its dual trash can. With a large capacity of 11 gallons split between two buckets, this dual-compartment trash can hold enough waste and recycling for days. Finished off with a fingerprint-proof surface, it has a sleek design that matches any kitchen style.

In a word, the design choices of the Kohler dual trash can only be described as sleek. The matte stainless steel is muted and stands out among other kitchen trash cans. Continuing the elegant design, the raised foot pedal is raised for easy access while keeping the overall footprint of the trash can at a minimum.

Inside the unit, there are two compartments; one for trash cans and another for a recycling bin. Both are capable of holding up to 5.5 gallons and feature a raised liner pocket. This raised liner helps you change out the trash bags more easily by giving you better access to tie off the bag.

Additionally, the Kohler dual trash cans use a hinge design to keep the walls free from scuffs. It is contained within the body of the trash can, which allows it to lie flush against a wall.

A minor inconvenience in the design of a raised liner comes in the occasional lifting of the liner when the lid is opened. This happens when the force of the lid opening is too sudden, so the liner lifts along with it; although rare, it should still be taken into consideration.

9. iTouchless 16 Gallon Dual Step Trash Can - 16 Gal / 60L

This step trash can from iTouchless has an outstanding 16-gallon capacity split between two compartments. With a color-coded system, sorting out trash has never been easier. Locked in with a secure seal and individual foot pedals, this dual-compartment trash can is a handy and reliable option for anyone.

One of the most critical features of the dual trash can is the separate compartments, so it makes sense that each bin should have its own pedal. iTouchless has realized this and implemented it into its own design, making for a comfortable and effortless experience when opening and closing the lid.

The softly opening lid of this step trash can is powered by an air damper, which can be replaced to regain its performance like new.

Within the dual trash can, there are two compartments that are color-coded for trash and recycling. The blue bin is for recyclable material while the black is for general waste. Each is able to hold up to eight gallons, so there is ample room whether it is placed in a home, business, or office.

Furthermore, both compartments of the trash can be removed for easy access. What's more, having a removable design means there is no need to buy additional custom bags.

As the iTouchless has a maximum capacity of eight gallons in each compartment and fits eight to ten-gallon bags, filling to capacity is challenging. With some adjustment to the load when getting full, it may be possible, but this should not be the case.

What is the Best Dual Trash Can?

Appearing below is a detailed comparison table, carefully constructed to outline the defining characteristics of the top dual trash cans on the market. It scrutinizes critical elements such as capacity, material, opening mechanism, lid type, odor control features, dimensions, and weight.

Buying Guide for the Best Dual Trash Can

Before settling on a particular dual trash can model, there are a few factors that you should keep in mind. To help you make the most informed decision, make sure you take the following points into consideration.

1. Material of the Bin

One of the first things that you should look for in a trash can is what it is made out of. The material can determine how much maintenance it will need as well as the weight and lifespan.

A popular material choice that many manufacturers go with is stainless steel, which is heavy-duty and repels odor. Spills and leaks can also be cleaned off with minimal effort, which makes it ideal for a trash can. Altogether, stainless steel is a material that maintains its quality for the long run.

Another material that is widely seen in trash cans is plastic. While it is durable and lightweight, it can easily be knocked over by children or pets. It is also susceptible to becoming stained and holding certain odors as time goes on.

2. Lid of the Trash Can

After materials, the next factor that should be considered is the lid type. Although there are many options out there, we highly recommend finding a hands-free model if you want peak accessibility.

Besides a foot-pedal method, there are also swing lids, sensors, and open-top options to look into. Just find the one that seems to fit your uses best and go with that model. However, we prefer the pedal method over all else because it allows you to access the bins even if your hands are full.

3. Trash Capacity

Depending on how many people are using the trash can, it can fill quite quickly or over weeks at a time. So, to make sure you don't have to regularly empty the bins, find an appropriately sized model.

Additionally, pay attention to what type of bag the model can hold and the capacity of the bins. Many advertise the model at its full capacity, so make sure to read the fine print while searching. Often, the ratio of the trash can is much more than the recycling bin, so find a good balance based on how much waste you throw away.

4. Recycling Bin

As the name suggests, a dual-compartment model has two sides for waste disposal. On the one hand, you have a trash can, while on the other, a recycling bin can be placed. Similar to the trash capacity, the recycle bin should have an appropriately sized capacity.

Whether you recycle more material or less, this bin size can determine how frequently you will need to empty it. Keep in mind that some models have a smaller recycling bin capacity compared to the trash can side. If you want to take full advantage of the recycling bin, make sure it is in the correct ratio with the waste side.

5. Grip

Trash cans should always be firmly planted on the ground to make sure there are no spills while changing the bags out. There are two ways that you can accomplish this secure base; by using a trash can that is made of heavy materials or one that has rubber grips on the bottom.

On the one hand, a stainless steel body can help the trash can reach a heavier weight and prevent it from tipping over easily if bumped. However, lighter materials have the benefit of being more accessible when interacting with the unit.

On the other hand, rubber grips on the bottom allow the entire trash can to have a solid base no matter what material the body is made out of. These grips will prevent the unit from slipping out from underneath you, no matter what the body of the trash can is made out of.

With that, we will wrap up our review of the best dual-compartment trash cans; hopefully, you were able to find a suitable option for your use.

Overall, our top choice has to go to the Home Zone for its small footprint and durable build. A close second is the SONGMICS, as it has excellent odor control. However, if you are looking for a sturdy base and quiet operation, then we highly recommend the Simplehuman.

Regardless of the model that you decide to go with, these trash cans will be sure to keep your home clean while looking clean and sleek. Just make sure you keep in mind our pointers, and you'll be sure to get the best dual-compartment trash can out there.