Garbage cans are coming out of the closet and going high end.
Once banished to dark hovels underneath the kitchen sink, waste receptacles of the modern age are stylish, innovative and placed in plain sight for all to admire.
It’s also true for composters. Forget the lowly coffee can under the sink: Countertop kitchen scrap keepers are available in a variety of finishes worthy of public display.
If it all seems excessive, remember this: You likely use your waste receptacles as much as any other item in your home, especially if you have one dedicated to recycling. Easy access is a must.
Here’s a look at some of the latest options. Most are available at local home and garden shops and major retail outlets.
What: This stainless steel compost pail from Williams-Sonoma gives you a place to temporarily stash kitchen scraps — apple cores and old lettuce leaves — before bringing them outside to your compost pile or curbside yard-waste bin.
Pros: Metallic finishes are hot right now and this model is available in the 1-gallon size as well as a stouter 1.5-gallon model to cut down on the number of times you have to empty it.
Cons: You’re supposed to replace the pail’s charcoal filter, hidden in the lid, every six months to keep odors under control.
Price: Williams-Sonoma offers the 1-gallon size for $49.95 (pictured) and the 1.5-gallon for $69.95 (by catalog and Internet only). The Container Store sells a bamboo version of the pail for $39.99. See www.williams-sonoma.com or www.containerstore.com.
What: Simplehuman’s rectangular recycler includes a blue chamber for recyclables and a black one for trash.
Pros: If you’re tight on space, this device, which includes a lid that won’t bang into your wall, consolidates waste management into one tidy footprint.
Cons: You’ll have capacity for 4.2 gallons of recyclables and 7.8 gallons of trash, which can make for frequent trips to your curbside bins, depending on the size of your family.
Price: This rectangular model (pictured) goes for $179.99. There is also a semi-circle model with two 4.9-gallon chambers for $139.99. See www.simplehuman.com.
What: Polder’s nearly 9-gallon garbage can winks like an eyelid to open and close, which means less vertical clearance is required.
Pros: It has a circumference of 13½ inches for a relatively small footprint, despite its average capacity. If you have a place under a counter to store a can, this is the way to go.
Cons: It’s 29 inches tall, so you’ll still need a fairly tall space. Also, you have to lift the entire exterior of the can off a galvanized interior bin to take the garbage bag out.
Price: It’s available from Amazon.com in white (pictured), black and brushed stainless steel for $130.
What: The Container Store’s exclusive 10.5-gallon compactor can comes with a built-in mechanism that allows you to push down on the trash without getting your hands dirty.
Pros: You can supposedly double the volume of trash you pack into each bag, thereby reducing the money spent on bags and the amount of bulk you send to the landfill.
Cons: Though made primarily of stainless steel, this can’s gray silicone compactor mechanism doesn’t exactly scream upscale.
Price: The Container Store lists the retail price as $169 or $139 on sale. See www.containerstore.com.
What: The iTouchless stainless steel garbage can comes with a sensor-activated lid.
Pros: There’s no pesky foot pedal to clean and it’s available in a variety of styles, including a hefty 13-gallon MX model (pictured), ideal for larger families.
Cons: It requires four D batteries (which last about a year) or you can power it with an optional AC adaptor (sold separately). If it malfunctions, it can make for more complex troubleshooting than a manual model.
Price: It retails for $129.99 but can be found for $99.96 on sale. See www.itouchless.com or www.amazon.com.
Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037, sjackson@heraldnet.com.
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