("hands free" OR sensor) (trash OR garbage) can

We've discovered that there's been an increasing number of people who come to our blog having searched in Google for something along the lines of a hands-free/infrared garbage/trash can, often adding the term Costco. They find our Future Trash entry, which is a good review of our trash can, but not real helpful for finding it online (especially since Costco doesn't list it online). For those of you looking for this trash can, here's some quick helpful information to get you on your way:

Amazon has the same trash can listed here. I'm not sure it's made by the same company as the one we bought at Costco, but it looks exactly the same and if the system really is patented then it should be the same company or licensed by them. As some Amazon reviews mention, the price is cheaper at Costco (around $35).

We've had it for two months now and it's been great the whole time. It gets a lot of use and the kids think it's neat so we have to keep the little one away from it now. He's not 18 months old yet and he already knows how to trigger the sensor and use the "open" and "close" buttons, it's that easy. The inner ring holds the trash bag in place well but makes for a bit of extra work taking out the old bag and replacing it. I believe the main reason for the ring is so none of the trash bag is visible from outside the can when the lid is closed, making for a more attractive appearance than most trash cans where the rim of the bag hangs over the edge of the can. This can is great for anyone who is picky about germs, wants a trash can that doesn't require your hand to open but is cheaper than typical foot pedal cans, or who loves gadgets.

About its reliability: the four Duracell D batteries I put in it are still going strong after two months, and I won't mind replacing them as long as they last at least six months. The sensor works pretty well, although it doesn't appear to sense 6 inches in all directions as the description states. It's more like 6 inches directly in front of the sensor, and maybe a couple of inches directly above the sensor. Since I'm over six feet tall, I have to lean over a bit and wave something just over the sensor to get it to trigger, but my wife (and especially the kids) have no problem at all. Since it is more sensitive to objects in front of the sensor than over it, it does tend to raise the lid a lot when we walk by it too closely. That doesn't bother us, though.