How Many Trash Cans Does a Small Coffee Shop Need?

Plan your coffee shop’s trash cans around the places that generate waste: the customer counter, recycling point, prep and espresso bar, dish pit, and restroom. Give each zone a bin, then choose capacity and emptying frequency around the waste it actually collects.

Who this is for, and who can skip a step

This guide is built for someone opening or reorganizing a small independent cafe who is deciding, from scratch, how many bins to buy, what streams to run, and where each one goes. If you already have a working front-of-house and back-of-house layout and are only replacing a worn-out can with the same size and style, skip straight to the picks below and match your existing footprint. If you already know your city mandates organics diversion and you have a hauler-provided compost cart, go straight to a countertop catch-bin for the prep station.

Our picks by zone

• Prep and dish pit: Rubbermaid BRUTE 32-gallon for the round-container option.
• Tight prep or espresso-bar space: Rubbermaid Slim Jim 23-gallon.
• Restroom: Rubbermaid 4-gallon resin step-on.
• Customer trash: simplehuman 60L swing-lid can.
• Prep-area step-can alternative: simplehuman 45L CW2024.
• Customer recycling: Rubbermaid Slim Jim Mixed Recycling 23-gallon kit.
• Organics collection at the prep station: simplehuman 4L compost caddy.
• Liners: Code M for CW2024 and BioBag food scrap bags.

These are choices for the zones, not a shopping list requiring every can. Choose one can for each job; a smaller step can can replace the larger prep can if its capacity suits your waste and emptying routine.

The bin-count-and-placement table

This starting layout uses five indoor bins before organics. The prep and espresso bar share one row; if those work areas are separate, give each a convenient receptacle. The organics row and exterior container are additional to the five-bin indoor baseline.

Zone	What generates the waste	Bin style that fits	Why
Front-of-house customer counter	Cup lids, napkins, stirrers, wrappers	Step-on or swing-lid	Convenient customer disposal
Front-of-house recycling point	Customer-sorted cans, bottles, cardboard	Labeled recycling bin beside customer trash	Keep accepted recyclables separate
Back-of-house prep and espresso bar	Coffee grounds, milk cartons, syrup bottles, prep scraps	Heavy-duty round or slim rectangular, 23 to 32 gallons	Capacity near the work area
Back-of-house dish pit	Food residue, wet waste	Heavy-duty round, 23 to 32 gallons	Collect waste where dishes are cleared
Organics or compost, where mandated or voluntary	Spent grounds, food scraps	Small countertop catcher feeding a larger back-of-house bin	Separate accepted organics
Restroom	Paper towels, hygiene waste	Small step-on can	Hands-free disposal
Exterior	Bagged accumulated waste awaiting pickup	Hauler-provided dumpster or cart	Collection arrangements with the hauler

The picks, one per zone

The picks below are affiliate links to Amazon; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. FranchiseFeast is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

For the BRUTE 32 and Slim Jim 23, measure the can and buy liners sized to its capacity. For other cans without a liner code below, check the can’s dimensions before ordering bags. An open container needs a suitable cover when the waste and sanitation conditions require one.

Can	Zone	Gallons	Lid type	Material	Liner	Best for
Rubbermaid BRUTE	Prep or dish pit	32	Open container	See maker specifications	Measure can; size to capacity	Wet prep waste
Rubbermaid Slim Jim Vented	Prep or espresso bar	23	Open container	See maker specifications	Measure can; size to capacity	Slim footprint
Rubbermaid resin step-on	Restroom	4	Step	Resin	Check dimensions	Hands-free disposal
simplehuman Swing Lid	Customer counter	15.9 (60L)	Swing	Black plastic	Check dimensions	Customer trash
simplehuman CW2024	Prep alternative	About 12 (45L)	Step	Brushed stainless steel	Code M	Liners stored in can
Rubbermaid Mixed Recycling kit	Customer recycling	23	Sorting opening	Resin	Check dimensions	Separate recycling stream
simplehuman CW1645	Prep organics	1.06 (4L)	Soft-seal lid	Brushed stainless steel	Check dimensions and hauler acceptance	Countertop food scraps

Back-of-house prep and dish-pit option

Rubbermaid BRUTE 32-Gallon Vented Round Container

Capacity

32 gallons

Liner removal

Venting channels make lifting out liners up to 50% easier, per Rubbermaid

Bag security

Integrated cinches for knot-free liner changes

Certification

NSF 2, 18 & 21 Compliant, per Rubbermaid specification sheet

Warranty

10-year limited warranty for BRUTE products

Choose this round container for the prep or dish-pit position in the layout. The linked can is green; Rubbermaid also sells other colors, including black SKU 1867531. Measure the can and buy liners sized to its capacity.

Specs: Rubbermaid BRUTE 32-gallon product page, specification sheet, and BRUTE limited warranty

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Slim-footprint prep or espresso-bar option

Rubbermaid Slim Jim Vented 23-Gallon, Black

Capacity

23 gallons

Model

FG354060BLA

Liner removal

Venting channels make removing liners up to 80% easier, per Rubbermaid

Bag security

4 bag cinches

The rectangular container is an option for the prep or bar station where a slim footprint fits the layout. Its four cinches hold the liner around the rim. Measure the can and buy liners sized to its capacity.

Specs: Rubbermaid Slim Jim Vented product page, FG354060BLA

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Restroom step-on option

Rubbermaid Commercial Resin Front Step-On, 4-Gallon (1883563)

Capacity

4 gallons

Material

Resin

Operation

Front step pedal

Liner retention

Liner retainer band

Color

Red; Rubbermaid also offers beige and white

Use this small step-on can at the restroom station. The linked red version is SKU 1883563; beige is 1883455 and white is 1883554. Rubbermaid's stainless Impressions 4-gallon front step-on (SKU 1901982) is sold through dealers.

Specs: Rubbermaid resin front step-on product page, SKU 1883563, and Impressions product page

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Customer-counter trash option

simplehuman Swing Lid Can, 60L / 15.9 Gallon

Capacity

60L / 15.9 gallons

Lid

Weighted, balanced swing lid

Cleaning

Quick-release hinge lets the lid lift out

Material

Black plastic

Warranty

5 years

The swing lid gives customers a disposal opening without a foot pedal. Its quick-release hinge allows the lid to be removed for cleaning. Check bag dimensions for this can before ordering liners.

Specs: simplehuman 60L Swing Lid Plastic Can product page

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Prep-area step-can alternative

simplehuman 45L Rectangular Step Can with Liner Pocket (CW2024)

Capacity

45L / about 12 gallons

Material

Brushed stainless steel

Liner Pocket

Stores and dispenses liners

Pedal

Tested for 150,000+ steps

Lid

Lid Shox controls closing movement

Liner

simplehuman Code M

Warranty

10 years

Choose this step can when built-in liner storage and controlled lid closing suit the prep station. The Liner Pocket keeps replacement bags in the can, and the CW2024 uses Code M custom fit liners.

Specs: simplehuman CW2024 product page

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One-stream customer recycling kit

Rubbermaid Slim Jim Recycling Station, Mixed Recycling, 23 Gal

Capacity

23 gallons

Material

Resin

Lid

Intuitive sorting openings

Assembly

Components snap in place without hardware

Configuration

One-stream Mixed Recycling kit; connects with Rubbermaid stations

Place this mixed-recycling kit beside customer trash and label it for materials your hauler accepts. Pair it with Rubbermaid's Landfill kit (ASIN B0BH53PPMR) for the trash side. Rubbermaid also sells a 2-stream Landfill/Mixed Recycling 23-gallon station, SKU 2007914, through dealers.

Specs: Rubbermaid Slim Jim Recycling Station product page and recycling station specification sheet

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Countertop organics catcher

simplehuman Compost Caddy, 4L / 1.06 gal (CW1645)

Capacity

4 liters / 1.06 gallons

Finish

Brushed stainless steel

Mounting

Docks magnetically on simplehuman rectangular/slim liner-rim cans

Lid

Soft-seal lid

Collect food scraps in this caddy at the prep station, then transfer them to the larger organics bin in your collection plan. Its magnetic dock is for compatible simplehuman rectangular or slim liner-rim cans. Confirm accepted scraps and bags with your hauler or composter.

Specs: simplehuman Compost Caddy product page, CW1645

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Liners for each bin

For the BRUTE 32 and Slim Jim 23, measure the can and buy liners sized to its capacity. Check dimensions for the resin step-on can, swing-lid can, and recycling kit as well. Capacity alone does not establish a bag’s fit around the rim. The CW2024 has a specific maker pairing: Code M.

For the countertop compost caddy and organics bin, confirm your hauler or composter accepts compostable bags. Choose a bag that fits the actual bin; the 3-gallon BioBag option below is for small food-scrap collection, not a liner for every larger organics container.

Liners for the 45L CW2024

simplehuman Code M Custom Fit Liners, 100 Count

Liner code

M

Pack

100 count

Can pairing

simplehuman 45L CW2024

Use Code M for the CW2024 step can above. The simplehuman CW2024 product page identifies Code M as its custom fit liner.

Specs: simplehuman CW2024 and Code M Custom Fit Liners product pages

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Small-bin organics liners where accepted

BioBag 3 Gallon Compostable Food Scrap Bags, 100 Count

Capacity

3 gallons

Pack

100 count

Certification

BioBag 3-gallon food waste bags are listed in the BPI certified product catalog

Consider these bags for the countertop compost caddy or a suitably sized organics bin after checking fit. Confirm your hauler or composter accepts compostable bags; BPI certification does not establish acceptance by your collection service.

Specs: BPI certified product catalog, BioBag Americas Inc.

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Covers and cleaning: OSHA’s sanitation rule

OSHA 1910.141(a)(4)(i) requires receptacles for putrescible solid or liquid waste to avoid leaks and permit thorough cleaning and sanitary maintenance. It also says such a receptacle:

“shall be equipped with a solid tight-fitting cover, unless it can be maintained in a sanitary condition without a cover.”

Choose a cover and emptying routine for the waste at that station. A swing lid or pedal is an operating feature, not by itself proof that the placement meets the sanitation rule. Under 1910.141(a)(4)(ii), remove waste as often as necessary or appropriate to keep the workplace sanitary.

Sizing math: match capacity to collection frequency

Commercial-can retailer Trash Cans Unlimited publishes this planning formula:

(Daily waste volume in gallons × 7) ÷ Weekly pickup frequency × 1.25 = Recommended container size.

The 1.25 multiplier adds a buffer for fluctuations. Use the formula when discussing accumulated waste and pickup frequency with your hauler. Keep that collection schedule separate from how often staff empty indoor bins. A larger exterior container does not replace a convenient, sanitary bin at each work area.

For a starting food-waste estimate, Trash Cans Unlimited gives about 1 pound per meal for full-service restaurants and 0.5 pounds per meal for limited-service restaurants. These are weight estimates, not gallon measurements. For container-volume conversion, Trash Cans Unlimited uses 202 gallons per cubic yard, about six 33-gallon bags. Trash Cans Unlimited recommends pickup at least three times weekly for restaurants producing meaningful waste volume; this is the retailer’s planning guidance, not a universal legal requirement.

Measure the waste your cafe produces instead of assigning a bin count from seats or floor area alone. For heavy scraps and spent grounds, Trash Cans Unlimited advises operators to “size for weight, not just volume.” Plan bag handling and emptying before a container becomes too heavy to move safely.

Coffee’s own waste driver: spent grounds

The Business Waste Company, a UK waste-collection quote service, estimates that a busy cafe produces 5 to 10 kilograms of spent coffee grounds per day, about 11 to 22 pounds. Treat this as a UK planning reference, not a US standard or a measurement of your shop’s waste.

For the smallest setup, The Business Waste Company lists a 240-liter general waste bin, about 63 US gallons, plus a small food caddy. Use that example when discussing separate general-waste and food-scrap collection with your hauler, and size your own setup around measured waste and accepted materials.

Do you need a third bin for organics or compost?

Check your state and city rules before deciding whether your cafe needs a separate organics stream. Two sourced examples show why a single waste-volume cutoff cannot answer that question everywhere:

• New York: New York State DEC lists the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law’s threshold as an annual average of 2 tons of wasted food per week or more from January 1, 2022. The threshold drops to 1 ton per week on January 1, 2027, and 0.5 tons per week on January 1, 2029. Check DEC’s applicability rules, exemptions, and recycler-distance conditions as well as the tonnage threshold.
• California: RethinkWaste describes AB 1826’s organics-recycling threshold as 2 or more cubic yards of solid waste, recycling, and organic waste combined per week. RethinkWaste also notes that SB 1383 eclipsed AB 1826’s requirements on January 1, 2022. Do not treat the older AB 1826 threshold as a current exemption from organics collection.

Where organics separation is required, include a separate food-scrap collection stream in your bin plan. Confirm current state and city requirements and your hauler’s accepted materials before choosing the caddy and larger collection bin.

Putting the layout together

Start with the five indoor positions in the table. Put customer trash and recycling together, keep prep and dish-pit disposal close to the work, and give the restroom its own can. Add organics collection where required by your state or local rules, with materials and liners your hauler accepts. Arrange the exterior container and pickup schedule directly with the hauler.

Pair this plan with the full coffee shop equipment list, the prep table guide, and the cup dispenser counter guide to coordinate bin placement with work surfaces and customer supplies. The portable handwash sink guide covers mobile setups, and the POS system guide helps plan the rest of the counter. For back-of-house storage near prep and dish stations, see our commercial shelving guide.