Simple Human 10.5-Gallon Semi-Round Step Can

When my kitchen garbage can finally wore out after years of hard use, I wanted one of the sleek and stylish garbage cans manufactured by Simplehuman. I also wanted a can that would fit neatly against the side of my stove (our preferred spot) and come in white.

The Simplehuman 10.5-Gallon Semi-Round Step Can met these requirements, so I paid the high price (about $130) to own one. Its half-moon shape does fit well against the stove. It's a great garbage can, and it looks great in my kitchen. But it had better be, at that price.

Unlike the can it was replacing, the Simple Human 10.5-Gallon Semi-Round Step Can's exterior is made of enameled steel, not plastic. If you're used to an old-fashioned plastic kitchen garbage can, you'll find that this one holds quite a bit more trash. It does, however, still easily accomodate a standard tall kitchen garbage bag.

To hide unsightly garbage bag edges, the can has an interior plastic bucket that actually holds the garbage bag, sort of a garbage can within a garbage can. To change the garbage bag, the manufacturer's instructions call for us to lift out the plastic bucket, pull out the old bag, and line the can with a new one. We are then supposed to pull the bag tight around the bucket and tuck excess bag into a special "bag tuck area" that keeps the bag tight. The plastic bucket can then be replaced in the garbage can.

In practice, I find my husband can't be bothered to go through all these steps. Instead, he leaves the bucket liner in place and places the plastic garbage bag around the exterior metal pail. So I'm still living with unsightly garbage bags.

Unlike less-expensive metal garbage cans, the Simple Human 10.5-Gallon Semi-Round Step Can has a metal (stainless steel lid), which I expect will improve its durability. Having had to lift the lid of my old garbage can with my hands for many years, I find the step-on feature is really convenient when I'm cooking. I've also found my kids like to play with the garbage can, repeatedly stepping on the lid to open it (I'm hoping the novelty of this will wear off soon.).

When I release the foot pedal, the lid closes slowly rather than slamming back down. This feels luxurious and is quiet, but it's not really a necessity. Another nice feature is the ability to lock the lid in the open position, handy if you are peeling carrots.

The Simple Human 10.5-Gallon Semi-Round Step Can comes in several colors: white, black, mocha, and stainless. This is nice if you, like me, want a metal garbage can but don't like the look of stainless steel. Clearly the manufacturer expects the product to last a long time; Simplehuman offers a 10-year warranty.

In summary, if you're willing to spend $100-plus for a garbage can and want to indulge, go right ahead. You will enjoy the product. But if you're not, you'll do just fine with a less-expensive model.