Disclosure: This is an unpaid review with Joseph Joseph. I was sent a Totem 60 Bin for the purposes of this blogpost. All images, thoughts and words — as ever — are my own.
There used to be a time when we’d literally throw anything and everything in the bin, if it was surplus to requirements.
And there was only one bin.
And a compost heap if you were lucky enough to have an allotment or a garden large enough to house one.
Thankfully, these days we live in an era where so much can be recycled.
In the area where we live, for example, the council recycles glass, paper, tins, garden waste, fabric — even food.
All good. And it gives me a sense of well-being to think that we’re trying to do our best for the environment (especially given how much packaging things seem to come in these days).
But the downside of being able to recycle so much is our kitchen is usually FULL of rubbish.
Bags for this, boxes for that. A caddy for food scraps.
Very often, our kitchen resembles a recycling centre. And for a neat-freak like me, it makes me despair.
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Introducing The Totem 60 Bin
Thankfully those clever chaps at Joseph Joseph have come up with the most intelligent waste bin you’re ever likely to come across. And not only intelligent but good looking too.
The Totem 60 is the epitome of smart recycling.
This is the Ferrari of bins — sleek, shiny and beautifully styled — plus it’s innovative system combines waste and recycling in one very lovely looking package.
Totem comes in three sizes — 48L, 58L and 60L — and is available in Stone or Graphite as well as there being a stainless steel version of the 60L unit.
And it’s not just a pretty face. There’s a general bin at the top of the unit — with an odour filter to reduce unpleasant smells — and a pull-out drawer at the bottom that can be divided to suit your recycling needs. We’ve got paper and card in one side and plastic and glass in the other.
The top bin can be easily lifted out so it doesn’t disturb the contents of the drawer below plus there is also a separate little caddy for food scraps. This can be stored inside the drawer or the waste bin — or you can take it out entirely to give you more room for refuse; we have ours standing on the kitchen counter.
My Totem 60 Bin Review
Joseph Joseph have labelled the Totem 60 ‘intelligent waste’ and they’re not wrong. But as well as being smart in terms of intuition it’s also smart in looks.
It’s streamlined exterior will fit beautifully in any setting; whether your kitchen is a vision of contemporary loveliness or one of rustic charm, this is the perfect bin.
Gone are the piles of paper and precariously balanced towers of cans and bottles, hello Totem 60. Sleek, discreet and a master of waste management.
Trashy this ain’t.
Recycling has never looked so good.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
This is such a clever idea. We usually leave our paper recycling on the window until someone goes outside. This would stop that and prevent the dogs running off with our empty cartons. It looks super sleek as well. Definitely a winner!
Yep — we have recycling balanced on chairs, the kitchen table — on TOP of the bin!! This Totem 60 has sorted that out completely. Absolutely awesome bit of design :)
It’s rare that a bin looks cool but this looks pretty snazzy. We love our Joseph Joseph Chop2Pot and can’t believe how we ever lived without it so I can’t imagine what it must be like with their recycling bin!
Agree — we have one of those too — it’s awesome isn’t it?! Love their products!
That really is the best bin ever. Isn’t it funny though that back in the day when we used to throw everything in one bin there wasn’t very much of it – just so much packaging now. I am a neat freak too and don’t even have a recycling bin as have to go straight out with it – but I would make room for this bin, it is gorgeous and all the different compartments would satisfy my OCD tendencies just nicely :)
Agree 100% I think it really IS the best bin ever. The handle opens and closes with a very pleasing clunk too — a bit like a swanky sports car. I. Love. It.
:)
I’ve always loved the Joseph Joseph products, very clever practical design but trendy too! Enjoy your bin- tho I’m sure like me you’re forever emptying it!!
Their products are fantastic aren’t they? So innovative — but really stylish too.
I love this bin (if it’s possible to love a bin?). We have wheelie bins for our recyclables and compost, but end up having a big bucket in our porch that we thrown things in before they go outside. I love being able to recycle but I just wish that products came with less packaging in the first place! #HomeEtc
Ohmylife!! YES!!! Me too — what IS it with the packaging?? Why can’t things be in cardboard and paper packaging? Why does it have to be plastic? It drives me nuts.
That’s one hell of a bin! I never thought I’d get excited over rubbish, but I’ll admit, this did make me feel a little warm and fuzzy on the inside :)
Haha!! ME TOO!! My boy and I had been looking at them in John Lewis and fawning all over them as though it was a swanky car — they’re awesome!!
Oh my word! This is genius! I’m so terrible at recycling and in fact we don’t have a bin since we renovated (I’ve been using grocery bags). This would definitely get me into a habit. xx
I’m a bit obsessive about recycling! ;) Although since we’ve been recycling food, you realise just how much landfill waste is eliminated. I think probably 60% of our black bin waste used to be made up of food scraps before we began recycling it all!! Shocking isn’t it? xx
I am actually swooning over your bin, I love it! My kitchen also resembles a recycling plant, I love that we can recycle so much these days but my goodness it’s a faff having stuff everywhere. This is genius x
It’s total genius isn’t it? So clever — and it looks the business!
That is the most stylish bin I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!! Love it – and love recycling, I am a bit of a nerd and separate all our stuff! This is amazing, Jess xx
It really is amazing — I don;t think the pics quite do it justice! :)
I have been lusting over one of these bins as I run a Recycling company (day job) so I am heavily pro recycling xx
Gosh do you??!! That’s fantastic Kara!! I’m massively pro recycling too but it does get annoying when it starts taking over the house — this has revolutionised our kitchen!! :)