Related Articles
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
When remodeling or revamping a kitchen, the trash can tends to get overlooked. Instead, the focus is on touch-free faucets, modern stoves and having AI assistants hooked up to everything. But no matter how high-tech the appliances around you are, you’ll still need a solid trash can. Today’s best smart trash cans bring their A-game with being sanitary easy to clean. Plus, they have smart sensor features that make them simple to use when you have your hands full.
Smart Trash Can Buying Guide
Here’s what we recommend considering before buying your new smart trash can:
Smart Technology: Whether your hands are covered in flour, batter, or you just touched raw meat, a smart trash can makes cooking and cleaning a little bit easier. An auto-opening can is more sanitary than touching the lid each time, and it can sometimes be done with a simple voice command. Sensors inside also measure the environment around it and know when you’re still standing there, so they won’t close up while you’re still using it.
Size: Smart features aside, make sure you find the right size of trash can that’s practical and proportionate to your kitchen, the number of people in your house and the amount you of trash you usually throw out. These come in a wide range, typically all the way up to 20 gallons. Keep in mind that some of the more oddly sized ones may require their own special liners.
Aesthetic: The majority of the latest smart trash cans look sleek and modern in most kitchens. Crafted from steel and aluminum, they add a high-tech touch to even an old house, with colors like silver and black that won’t distract. Design and efficiency are key considerations, too. Think about things like how it opens, its shape and if it has 90-degree edges to fit into a corner or into a cabinet. You may also want to look for certain features, including whether or not it has extras like a holder for additional trash bags on it. Some lids are designed to be a little lengthier around the perimeter to completely seal off the can when they close, making sure no nasty odors slip out.
Power Source: A trash can that plugs in has its advantages, like never worrying about a battery going dead or needing a recharge. But a battery-powered can also has its positives, like being able to put it anywhere, or even move it below the counter when you’re cooking.
What Are the Best Smart Trash Cans?
We picked four of our favorite smart trash cans to put in your kitchen right now.
