The Best Sensor Bins For Hands-Free Disposal

In a sleek, brushed stainless steel with a fingerprint-resistant finish, the EKO Deluxe Phantom Sensor Bin has a quiet, dual-opening lid so you easily drop your rubbish inside. Combining style and technology, it has a removable inner bucket for easy cleaning and a bin bag stabiliser that’ll hold any sized bin liner in place. Simply hover your hand over the lid to operate but there is a manual option available too if preferred.

Customer review: “I am slightly embarrassed about how excited I am about this bin - the whole family love it! Excellent capacity for a family, and the mechanism of no-touch open/close is fantastic. It fits our space perfectly and looks modern and sleek in our kitchen. Well worth paying a bit more for a bin which looks great and is a standard above the others.”

In a neat, semi-circular design that’ll sit nicely at the end of a row of kitchen cabinets, this simplehuman Semi-Round Sensor bin is full of innovations. It has a pocket that’ll store and dispense bin liners from inside the bin for quicker changes (there’s nothing worse than opening the bin to find you forgot to line it). The surface has been treated to be fingerprint-resistant and anti-microbial, and it has dynamic sensing that’ll adapt to your tasks to avoid any false triggers.

Customer review: “Spent some time thinking about this purchase due to the cost as on the pricey side for a kitchen bin. However, we have been absolutely delighted and worth every penny. Have previously had a high-end touch bin but the spring in the lid broke less than 12 months after purchase which meant it only opened very slightly which made it difficult to use."

“Having taken the plunge and invested in this item could not be happier. The motion sensor works really well and I love the fact it is not necessary to touch the bin, so much more hygienic. The cat is not quite so happy and runs for the hills if in close range when we use it but he will no doubt get used to it.”

We’re a little obsessed with the Swan Retro Square Sensor Bin, available in a range of colours and in this stylish retro design. The colour-coated iron body is visually appealing and easy to clean, and fitted with the sensor it’ll open and close by itself for convenient, hands-free rubbish disposal. Not only does it look great, but it’s a great size too – at 45 litres, it’ll minimise the need to empty the bin in growing families.

Customer review: “I love this bin, easy to put together and so handy to use and love the fact that I do not have to use a pedal to open or shut, just a small wave at the sensor and that's it!! Chose the colour to match my other Swan kitchen items and really happy with my purchase, which arrived undamaged in good packing too. Definitely 5 stars!”

The Tower Sensor Kitchen Bin was the best, most affordable sensor bin we could find. With the sensor's silent lid mechanism, you can open the bin with a simple wave that closes after five seconds of inactivity. The removable lid is handy for bin liner changes, and if you’re not a fan of the grey, it also comes available in black, cream, and silver at the same low price.

Customer review: “Bought this to replace a previous sensor bin (different brand) after the lid stopped operating properly. Perfect size and looks great, although the bin is metal the lid is plastic which I find easier to keep clean than my previous lid which was metal. The only thing is getting used to the sensor as this is located front-facing whereas my previous one was on top of the lid bit getting used to it now and it stays open long enough to scrape any leftovers into. Would recommend.”

At the other end of the scale, you can find the Simplehuman Dual Rectangular Sensor Bin with Voice Control, an expensive yet seriously high-tech bin that has everything you could want from a kitchen bin and more. It has dual compartments so you can neatly sort your rubbish and recycling, the same liner pocket as the Simplehuman Semi-Round Sensor Bin, and a hands-free motion sensor. On top of this, it comes with voice control so you can tell your bin to open and close with three microphones built-in for voice recognition accuracy, even in loud or busy environments.

Customer review: “Does exactly what it says on the can! Love that you don't have to touch it, so no fingerprints and no mess as it's open when you put messy things in it.”

If you really want to customise the compartments within your bin, look no further than the Cook Professional Recycling Sensor Bin. It has a huge 75-litre capacity divided into different sections; the top general waste bin can be one bin or divided into two, and the same can be applied to the bottom section too. Have two to four compartments perfect for dividing rubbish, recycling and food waste all within one bin, with infrared sensors keeping your hands free and hygienic.

Customer review: “I have had this product for about a month, the product quality is very high, so pleased with it and the non-touch opening of the lid I find really useful.”

Not only does this bin have smart sensors so you can operate it without even touching it, but it also comes with an oversized lid that’s been designed to cleverly hide any unsightly bag overflow. Unlike other sensor bins on our list, this EKO Horizon bin comes without an inner bucket – so you get more capacity in a compact bin – and it comes with handles for easy movement and transportation around your home.

Customer review: “This bin is super quality and great value for money. The hands-free lid opening and closing is brilliant so much more hygienic.”

Morphy Richards has their own affordable sensor bin that doesn’t compromise on quality. Made from steel, the body is durable and non-corrosive, whilst the retainer ring keeps bin liners securely in place, no matter how heavy the weight of your rubbish. With this bin, you also get three, lemon-scented bin liners including an impressive five-year guarantee when you register your product online.

Customer review: “Nice and compact design means it fits away nicely. The gently sloping sides mean that bags can be removed easily. The sensor works well, and the bin opens and closes reliably. The motor isn't too strong so will not close fully if there is anything blocking it. A nice touch is the plastic ring that secures the bin bag to the base prior to the lid being placed on top. May be worth placing it in a position where there is not too much foot traffic, as the sensor is quite sensitive it can open the bin when you walk closely past it.”

The Tower Recycling Sensor Bin offers a generous 70-litre capacity, great for both single and large households, with a top compartment that can be divided for rubbish and recycling, and a bottom compartment ideal for paper waste. The smart, silent sensor lid activates when objects are 15-20cm in front of the bin and closes five seconds later, convenient and hygienic, with a bin freshener holder in the bin to keep it smelling fresh.

Customer review: “Easy to use and most importantly clean. I like the flexibility of the different compartments as we currently don’t need both top and bottom splitting in half but we will in the near future so it will be very convenient and save us having to have extra bins.”

This sensor bin is designed very much the same as the EKO Deluxe Phantom Sensor Bin, just with a slightly lower capacity, better suited to smaller households, that has been divided into two colour-coded 20-litre buckets for separating recyclables from general waste. It looks equally as sleek in the brushed stainless steel with a dual opening lid with soft close hinges, activated with the motion sensor.

Customer review: “I LOVE my new bin. No more fingerprints. This is an elegant item, easy to empty and re-bag, a nice size for two of us and ultra-handy for the recycling division. Great product if a little on the pricey side. Overall though good value.”