Interior designer Ángeles Martínez, from the company Beta Interiorismo, questions the common practice of placing the trash bin under the sink in kitchens. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the specialist argues that the bin's location should be planned based on the tasks being performed and the flow of people, rather than being an automatic choice motivated by a lack of alternatives in the initial planning.
The designer acknowledges that hiding the bin under the sink has advantages, such as keeping the utensil out of sight and freeing up floor space for circulation, especially in small kitchens. However, Martínez considers that these advantages should be weighed against the ease of access to the trash during meal preparation.
The problem becomes more evident when several people use the kitchen at the same time. If someone is washing dishes while another person needs to throw away packaging or leftovers, access to the same cabinet can create interruptions and inconveniences. The situation repeats itself when someone uses the dishwasher or performs other tasks in that area.
The alternative proposed by Martínez involves moving the bin closer to the area where food is prepared, allowing peels and waste to be discarded without crossing the kitchen. This proximity reduces trips with food scraps in hand and makes both preparation and cleaning easier. The designer clarifies, however, that the recommendation does not mean everyone should remove the bin from under the sink, since the room's dimensions, furniture layout, and number of users may justify different choices.
