Joseph Joseph Totem Max Recycling Bin
£199
|The Joseph Joseph Totem Max is a 60-litre waste and recycling bin with two 30-litre compartments and a removable 3-litre food-waste caddy. It brings the sort of domestic order usually attempted with three mismatched bins glaring at one another in the kitchen corner.
Prices correct as of: 20/08/2026 10:24
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At a glance
One-line verdict
A genuinely civilised recycling bin for households drowning in packaging, provided you can spare the floor space and tolerate its 9.7 kg seriousness.
Best for
Busy households that want rubbish, recycling and food waste organised in one substantial kitchen unit rather than scattered across the room.
Skip it if
Skip it if your kitchen cannot accommodate a 39 cm by 36.6 cm footprint, or if lifting a 9.7 kg bin sounds like an unwanted core workout.
The full picture
Recycling has become one of those domestic jobs that ought to be simple, yet somehow ends with a cardboard box balanced on the floor, food scraps in a mystery tub and a regular bin that is mostly takeaway packaging. The Joseph Joseph Totem Max takes that familiar mess seriously enough to give it a single 60-litre address.
This Stone version combines two 30-litre compartments with a removable 3-litre food-waste caddy. The appeal is not glamorous, unless your idea of glamour involves knowing exactly where the tin cans go, but it is unusually complete. We think that matters: a bin that handles only one stream of household detritus merely creates another object to trip over.
At 39 cm wide and 36.6 cm deep, the Totem Max asks for a deliberate patch of kitchen floor. It is also 81.4 cm high shut and reaches 111 cm when open, so this is not a sly little under-counter helper. The 9.7 kg weight reinforces the point. It belongs in a settled kitchen arrangement, not a rental flat where every appliance has to earn its keep twice a year.
The sensible details keep the proposition from becoming a handsome monument to sorting guilt. Standard liners are suitable, custom IW2 and IW6 liners are supported, and activated carbon odour filters are replaceable. There is even a three-year guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship. We chose it because it makes the boring infrastructure of a busy kitchen feel properly considered, which is a strangely satisfying achievement for a large box of rubbish.
The Irresistible
- Two separate 30-litre compartments make room for waste and recycling without recruiting a row of smaller bins to colonise the kitchen.
- The removable 3-litre food-waste caddy gives scraps their own destination rather than turning the main bin into a small biological experiment.
The Clever Part
- It accepts standard liners as well as Joseph Joseph IW2 and IW6 custom-fit liners, so everyday bin-bag logistics need not become a brand-specific hobby.
- Replaceable activated carbon odour filters are included; Joseph Joseph recommends changing the filter every three months for best performance.
- A three-year guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship adds useful reassurance to a large household fixture.
The Fine Print
- The lid reaches 111 cm high when open, so low cupboards or shelving above it could make disposal more theatrical than intended.
- Filter replacement every three months is another small household chore, alongside the existing national pastime of forgetting bin day.
The Reality Check
- At 9.7 kg and with a 39 cm by 36.6 cm footprint, this is a committed piece of kitchen furniture rather than a lightweight bin for cramped or frequently rearranged spaces.
Buyer questions answered
What capacity is the Joseph Joseph Totem Max?
The Joseph Joseph Totem Max has a total 60-litre capacity, split into two 30-litre compartments, plus a removable 3-litre food-waste caddy. That is a proper household system, not a tiny recycling gesture beside the kettle.
Can the Joseph Joseph Totem Max use standard bin liners?
Yes, the Totem Max is suitable for standard liners, as well as Joseph Joseph IW2 and IW6 custom-fit liners. A bin requiring ceremonial proprietary bags would be tiresome; thankfully this one is less precious.
Does the Joseph Joseph Totem Max have an odour filter?
Yes, it includes replaceable activated carbon odour filters, which Joseph Joseph recommends replacing every three months for best performance. Food waste is many things, but a lasting kitchen fragrance should not be one of them.
What guarantee comes with the Joseph Joseph Totem Max?
Joseph Joseph provides a three-year guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship for the Totem Max. That is reassuring for a bin designed to become a permanent fixture of household bureaucracy.
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