Making garbage beautiful - What's New? - Brief Article - Buyers Guide

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), May, 2003

* As beautiful as your kitchen may be, the never-ending production and accumulation of garbage can detract from it. Whether you use a garbage can, paper and/or plastic bags, or whatever else you might collect it in preparatory to disposal, the words unsightly and smelly spring to mind. Even if you utilize a pail-and-bag combination tucked away in a cabinet, the amount they will hold is limited, and odors build up. A far-better solution is the Brabantia Touch Bin from iHW Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sleekly made from steel plate and chromium steel, this bullet-shaped can has a corrosion-resistant exterior; a lid that forms an odor-proof seal and opens and closes silently at the barest touch, thanks to a uniquely designed hinge; an interior metal bucket that may be lifted out to empty it or can accommodate "SmartFix" bin liners which can be disposed of simply and neatly; an unobtrusive, yet rugged hand grip that allows you to move the bin easily, even when fully loaded; and a plastic base to prevent scratching the floor.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Attractive enough to leave out in full sight without detracting from your kitchen's look, it comes in a variety of sizes from three to 50 liters. We found the 30-liter one (about 27 dry quarts or 1,830 cubic inches), which runs about $129 in specialty houseware stores, perfect for the kitchen. The smallest (three-liter) model can work well in a bathroom, while the 50-liter version is ideal for garage trash.

This symbol * indicates USA Today has tested a product for operating in full compliance with the manufacturer's specification and to determined its performance as applicable to our readers' needs. Disadvantages, if any, also are reported. Although we cannot guarantee a product, we offer the starred designation as a guide to readers.