Waste sorting made easy
Apr 2026Why waste sorting matters – but varies for everyone
The advantages of a waste bin drawer
How to create more storage space in the drawer
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Like it or not, waste is part of our life. Every year, Europeans generate an average of around half a tonne of municipal waste per person – that is household waste and similar types of waste.
But every one of us can make a difference. Sorting waste properly means the huge amounts we produce don’t all end up in landfills. In fact, 40.8% of waste in the European Union was recycled in 2022, according to . That way, waste becomes a valuable resource again. A first, crucial step towards sorting your waste correctly at home – and making recycling work – is a well-thought-out waste system in your kitchen, where much of your household rubbish is generated.
Local requirements and personal habits
Does every kitchen need a separate bin for food waste, paper, plastic, metal, glass and general rubbish? It depends – because recycling is handled differently around the world. How many separate waste bins, and what size they should be, comes down to a number of factors:
Regional differences: The number of waste categories often depends on the technology used in local recycling facilities. In some areas, for example, plastic and metal waste are collected together because sorting facilities can easily separate the metal. In that case, a single bin is appropriate for both of them.
Deposit bottles and cans: Whether or not a country has a deposit-return scheme can also affect how you store your waste. Most reverse vending machines won’t accept crushed deposit bottles or cans, so you need more space to store them until you return them.
Climate: High temperatures accelerate odour build-up. In hot regions bins should be emptied more frequently and they may be smaller.
Personal habits: Your own routines play a crucial role, too. Ask yourself: Where is most waste generated in the household, and how much of each type? For instance, if paper is rarely used in the kitchen, it may be sufficient to have a paper bin only in the home office. Or is the kitchen, as the social hub of the household, the most practical spot for a paper bin?
Alternative ways of reducing and disposing of waste: Does your garden have a compost heap to dispose of organic waste? Do you tend to use reusable containers such as storage jars or reusable plastic containers instead of single-use packaging? Thinking this through will help you get a realistic picture of how much bin space you’ll actually need.
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The classic: the waste bin drawer
Once you’ve worked out how many bins you need and in what sizes, the next step is finding the right space for them. The tried-and-tested favourite is a waste bin drawer under the sink. This solution offers several advantages:
makes optimal use of the space under the sink
provides easy access from the worktop and the sink
stays out of sight and concealed behind the fronts
minimises odour build-up
saves space with no free-standing waste bin taking up floor space
Waste bin drawers are available in a wide range of versions – top or bottom-mounted and in various sizes – so they can be tailored to your needs and the space available. The drawers can be implemented using common box and runner systems, such as by Blum.
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The classic waste bin drawer solution offers plenty of space for different bins beneath the sink.
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The top-mounted version is particularly practical when the waste bin drawer is located directly beneath the worktop, rather than under the sink. This allows waste to be dropped directly into the bin and the bins can be emptied comfortably without bending.
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The top-mounted, easy-to-clean version can also be fixed to an inner drawer.
Planning for pros
Sufficient space
It makes sense to store cleaning utensils and bin liners close to the waste bin and under the sink – keeping your worktop clear for cooking and everything close at hand when you need it. To make the most of the space in and around your waste bin drawer, here are four ways to create even more space and better organisation:
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Using an inner dividing system such as ORGA-LINE by Blum makes everyday life easier: Instead of rummaging around for small items, everything is clearly visible at a glance and always neatly in its place.
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Inner drawers allow you to create additional storage space for small cleaning supplies, such as sponges or brushes.
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Make full use of the drawer’s depth to create additional storage behind the waste bins for tall storage items, such as bottles of detergent, kitchen roll or bulky packs of dishwasher tablets.
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A U-shaped sink drawer adds additional storage space around the sink. It’s the ideal home for washing-up essentials, keeping the area around the sink uncluttered.
Learn more about the sink cabinet
A light touch – and the waste bin drawer opens as if by itself
With the right technology, waste sorting becomes even easier. After all, we’ve all been there: kitchen scraps need to go into the bin, but you don’t have a free hand to open the drawer. With the electronic opening support system by Blum, a light touch on the front is all it takes and the drawer glides open on its own. You can even activate the opening support system with your knee or the tip of your foot if you hands are full. The front stays clean and the waste goes in the bin. SERVO-DRIVE uno has been developed specifically for waste bin drawers and comes with an integrated drip protection feature to make sure no dripping water can get into the electronics.
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SERVO-DRIVE allows you to open your drawer with just a light touch. Fronts stay clean and the waste goes in the bin.
One last thought: sorting your waste is great, but avoiding it in the first place is even better. Here are six tips to help cut down on rubbish:
Opt for reusable goods, such as storage jars, refillable water bottles and reusable shopping bags.
Avoid single-use materials, such as cling film, coffee-to-go cups and plastic bags.
Buy unpackaged produce wherever possible.
Cook from scratch instead of relying on ready-cooked meals. This cuts down packaging and is healthier.
Make use of leftovers. For example, vegetable scraps can be turned into a soup and coffee grounds make a brilliant fertiliser.
Upcycle old items into something fancy and chic – turn old glass bottles into vases, tins and cans into candle holders, or old t-shirts into patchwork blankets.
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All advantages at a glance:
Regional requirements and personal habits play a decisive role in how many waste bins you need and what size they should have
A waste bin drawer under your sink is a practical, space saving and simple solution for sorting waste in the kitchen
Making use of the full depth of the drawer helps maximise storage space
Inner drawers and U-shaped sink drawers can provide additional space
The electronic opening support system lets you open the waste bin drawer with just a light touch – really handy when your hands are full
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