I have the Simple Human semi round and it fits flush against the wall without rubbing. I love that the can has a lift out tub with a slot for the excess bag to go in so that the bag never slips down into the can. It has a hefty size as well.

I cook a ton, and frankly I think the type of trash can, aside from aesthetic considerations if you happen to like to look at it out in the kitchen, is almost entirely irrelevant. Mine is hidden under the sink so I don't have to see it. I collect trash & compost in a small container on the counter while I cook, and dump it in a)the trash can and b) the compost can when I get to a good stopping point.

We had this exact same problem, so one year for Christmas the boy splurged and bought me (*us*) a $100 simplehuman rectangular one. It's amazing. I love the liner that holds the bag in place and it fits perfectly in a corner out of the way. I use a microfiber cloth and water to keep it clean and it's held up marvelously for over a year and a half, to a very busy kitchen. If you don't have room to put a trash can under a cabinet, I highly recommend one of the simplehuman ones.

we recently went trashcan shopping. I can't recall the brand we ended up with, but it's great.

Two problems we discovered while shopping:

1) most kitchen trash cans have HORRIBLE reviews. They break. You'd think a trashcan is too simple to mess up while manufacturing, but apparently, most companies (simple human included) use plastic in moveable joint areas and break within months.

2) some trashcans don't fit standard bags, or are too small for people who actually cook! (another massive design oversight). Don't be tempted by a cute can that's under 12 gallons.

If you take into consideration both of these points, your selection of trashcans dwindles from hundreds of styles to only a couple......

You can cut down on the waste a bit if you keep a freezer bag for compostable materials or trimmings to make soup stock. It certainly helps us keep our trashcan waste down and me and my boyfriend cook a ton.

I actually prefer a smaller kitchen trash can, and one without a lid - easier to pitch stuff in. I found that the garbage in a larger trash can started to get whiffy long before it was full. I just have a wicker basket (small enough that I can tuck it under the sink if I want) that just fits the garbage bags I use, and take things out to the dumpster a little oftener.

I used to work in a medical laboratory, and I fell in love with their professional-grade waste receptacles. I have long wished to have one in my own kitchen instead of the semi-disposable plasticky kind from BBB. Check out Union Receptacle, in particular their Silent Defenders line. They're pricey but they're the last kitchen garbage can you'll buy. I want mine in red.

We, too, splurged on the simplehuman one. Unlike my sister's $100 trash can (the simplehuman one is also $100), ours has not yet broken. It takes standard bag sizes, fits well against the wall, and doesn't take up a lot of space.

http://www.simplehuman.com/products/trash-cans/kitchen/deluxe-butterfly.html

Got one of these at costco for about $60. I usually use smaller shopping bags from the supermarket instead of the big ones. With the big bags, by the time I get it fully, it can be smelling pretty bad

we have the OXO one and it's awesome. Used a 20% bed bath for it to make the price more manageable, but even without that it would be worth it.

SimpleHuman step can, all the way. You can have gunk all over your hands and keep the can clean, or have clean hands and keep them that way. It's 3 years old, gets stomped on constantly, and still opens like the day we brought it home.

I had a step-top one and it was nice except that 1) I am a violent person and broke it and 2) the large size and covered top meant way too many nights skipping taking out the garbage. Bad idea. The el cheapo small rectangular office-style one works much better on both counts.

Thanks for this! Our kitchen rubbish bin is on it's last legs. The pedal is hanging by a little bit. I never thought about how inconvenient a round bin is. Now I know what to look for when we finally go shopping.

If you have a tiny kitchen, why not consider a cabinet mount trash can. And you don't have to buy garbage bags - just use grocery bags! I have one called Rack Sack, and it's great. Especially if you don't generate enough trash to fill up those huge bags before the trash starts to stink.

I have this simplehuman trash can from Amazon.

http://tiny.cc/8j4T4

Only $39.95, and just as sleek and practical as some of the really pricey trash cans.

We are in the midst of looking for a new trash can for under the sink. Our current one lasted about 3 years. We have no where to put in the kitchen except under the counter.

I will keep the comments in mind when we go shopping.

I'm not sure if this is the model I have (not at home, don't remember the manufacturer or size): http://www.amazon.com/iTouchless-Hands-Free-Infrared-Automatic-Trashcan/dp/B000EJUACU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1250157080&sr=8-3 - but it's the same look and style.

The version I have has an infrared sensor so you don't have to touch anything with dirty hands, it's got a pull-out inner can if you need it, can take plastic shopping bags or bigger trash bags... It's been going mostly trouble-free for at least five years now.

Potential downsides: It does require batteries that need to be swapped out every year or so. It needs to not be in a high-traffic area or it will open at random passersby. It can unnerve visitors: "Your garbage can just waved at me!"

I have the metal half-round simplehuman as well. After 3.5 years it still works like a charm - opens easily, grips bags well, keeps smells well hidden.

My major regret is that I bought a half round. It worked for our first kitchen, but two moves later it's always been a not-very-good fit in the other kitchens. A thin rectangular one would have worked SO much better. But they're just to pricey for me to justify running out to buy a new one when the old still works just fine.