Sensor bins contain an infrared motion sensor on the lid that detects when you put something in front of it. They usually have a range of about 15-40 cm. When the sensor detects movement within this range, the lid springs open. After a set time period such as 5 or 10 seconds, the bin will automatically close again. This lets you put something in the bin without touching it, so you can keep your hands clean. According to iTouchless, this bin is very efficient in its energy usage, and as a result, one set of batteries can last up to 1.5 years. To reduce nasty smells, this bin has an activated carbon filter that can absorb the unpleasant odours from food and household waste.

This sensor bin offers great design at an extremely reasonable price point. It features a 15cm range sensor, pointed upwards. Unlike many other sensor bins, Morphy Richards have designed their bin to avoid the sensor triggering when someone walks past.This sensor bin from simplehuman is constructed with brushed stainless steel, giving it an elegant, classy look. Designed for efficiency, the batteries last for up to 1 year before needing a replacement. Sensor bins are a relatively new type of technology, so you might be wondering how well they work. Here are a few common issues with sensor bins: As a general rule, bigger households need larger bins. If you have a busy household and only a small kitchen bin, you could easily end up changing the bin daily and so would benefit from using a bigger kitchen bin. No kitchen is complete without a safe and hygienic place to put your rubbish – a bin. Why not enjoy some of the finer leaps in technology and get yourself a bin that opens automatically with no need to touch it? We do truly live in the future. In the same way, if you live on your own and have a large bin, you could end up leaving rubbish in your kitchen for long periods of time which will just result in nasty smells.

Not only does this bin have a sleek, modern stainless-steel appearance, it has a fingerprint-resistant lacquer that means you never have to put up with unsightly marks. It contains motion sensors above and in front of the bin, to open effortlessly with a gentle wave of your hand. The sensors are designed in a very smart way so that the bin will only open if your hand is very near the bin, avoiding false triggers. Once the bin is open, the sensor range increases, so it will stay open until you have finished using it. Of course, how much your household recycles and how much general waste you generate will influence this; some large households might find that a 50-litre bin is more than enough if their food waste or recycling is disposed of separately, for example. Available spaceIt’s worth noting that this bin is a tad smaller than most of the other bins on this list. If you’ve got a large family, it might be best to opt for a higher capacity. Furthermore, the design of this bin doesn’t hide the bin liner, unlike many other sensor bins at this price point. This is ideal in a smaller kitchen. It features a sleek modern design that would fit in nicely into any kitchen. It takes 4 AA batteries, which are cheap and easy to replace. Many sensor bins also have manual ‘open’ and ‘close’ buttons that you can use instead of the sensor mechanism. In addition to being more hygienic, sensor bins are also more convenient as you can easily get rid of waste food even when you have both hands full. This sensor bin from NETTA has a sturdy stainless-steel body with removable lid and liner, making it incredibly easy to clean and maintain. If your kitchen floor can be slippery, you’ll appreciate the non-skid bottom that will keep this bin in one place.