My kitchen bin mayhem began a couple of years ago when our council decided that we had to recycle food waste separately. This sent me on a bin quest that was to end in happiness. Here's how the route went...

First of all I bought a worktop food recyler like this kitchen caddy - it was nice looking and everyone used it, but we had too many peelings and teabags and ended up emptying it all the time.

I decided to try to find a pedal bin that was square and unobtrusive and would fit next to the bin I already had. I found one for £50 - it broke within two months. I was so angry at the waste of money. It seems to have gone off-sale now, but my moaning about it brought about the discovery that a lot of pedal bins (even pricey ones) are not strong enough and break easily.

Next I bought this rectangular pedal bin which was very good actually, but by now I had decided that I didn't really want two bins on the floor - it made the kitchen looked cluttered. The search for one perfect bin, with a food compartment and a rubbish compartment, began...

I started compulsively Googling 'slimline two-bucket pedal bins'; I carried the maximum measurements around with me and checked out bins everywhere - they were all just that bit two bulky. But eventually I found this beautiful bin - the simplehuman Deluxe Butterfly Recycler. I've had it over two months now and I am in love! Here's why...

1) It's slim enough to sit by my back door and still allow me to get a bike through.

2) It's very, very sturdy - it comes with a ten-year guarantee and I feel the two of us will be together for the decade!

3) It's beautiful - people actually comment: 'What a nice bin,' they say!

4) It somehow keeps smells in.

5) The food bin is big enough for me to only need to empty it once a week.

6) I don't fight it when I take the bin bags out - there's a clever little air hole that means there's no nasty suction to deal with.

7) I don't have to buy simplehuman bin liners, which are recommended for it - although they are neater with it and sometimes I treat my trusty bin to some.

The simplehuman Deluxe Butterfly Recycler costs £149.99, and I think it's worth every penny. Happily, my bin quest is well and truly over.

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