Garbage can

Garbage cans and garbage bins are containers used for the disposal of garbage. While they can hold less household refuse than trash compactors, they don't wear down or break. Garbage cans can be found in buy mode under "Appliances -> Large Appliances" or in "Miscellaneous" depending on the game, and in the Kitchen section sorted by room.

The Sims
Each residential lot contains an outdoor trash receptacle that can be used for the disposal of trash; this trash can is located outside of the lot's boundaries, and cannot be moved without the use of the moveobjects cheat. Players can also purchase smaller trash containers for use indoors that allow Sims to temporarily dispose of garbage in them. These trash cans will eventually need to be emptied into the outdoor trash can.

The Sims 2
Garbage cans function similarly to those in The Sims. Sims may autonomously empty a garbage can even if it is not yet full. Sims with less than two neat points can "Salvage" from the outdoor trash can, which yields the scavenging Sim a few Simoleons if they find something. This will come at a slight cost to hygiene. Passersby may also kick the outdoor trash can over if they are enemies or furious with one of the members of the household, or if they have very few nice points. Children and teens with a low aspiration score may also autonomously kick the outdoor trash can, and messy pets may knock it over. A trash can that has been knocked over will produce a pile of trash, and must be picked up by a teen or older Sim before it can be used for garbage disposal again.

Trash Trapper 910i
Comes in white, green, pink, blue and yellow.

'Right Away' Community Trash-Can
This garbage replaces the traditional galvanized trash can on community lots. More can be purchased from buy mode.

Trash-Tahk Trash Chute
The trash chute appears in the communal areas of most premade apartment lots. It does not need to be emptied, and can be placed inside apartments or even on regular residential lots. As such, the trash chute can technically replace all other garbage cans and trash compactors, including the outdoor trash can. Unlike fireplaces, the trash chute does not occupy any space behind the wall it is placed on. Sims will typically use the trash chute if it is closer than the outdoor trash can.

The Sims 3
Trash cans can be moved around in The Sims 3 without the use of the moveobjects cheat. Like in The Sims 2, Sims can be directed to rummage through trash cans, and may also do so autonomously even if they lack the slob trait. Sims working in the law enforcement career can search through garbage cans to build their job performance. Unlike previous games, the player can simply drag and drop disposable items, such as newspapers and plates, onto the garbage can to dispose of them.

If Ambitions is installed, Sims working in the investigator profession may be tasked with searching through another Sim's trash can to gather evidence. The Sim will stop searching if they are spotted by any of the household members, although there does not appear to be any additional consequences to this.

The Sims 4
Garbage cans in The Sims 4 consist of smaller wastebaskets, intended for indoor use, and larger trash cans for outdoor use. Unlike previous games, outdoor trash cans can be purchased in buy mode and multiple models of them are available. Wastebaskets will eventually need to be emptied into an outdoor trash can. Wastebaskets take up a 0.5x0.5 tile space while outdoor trash cans take up a 1x1 tile space.

Sims who are angry or tense, or who have the erratic trait can kick outdoor trash cans like in The Sims 2. However, they can only kick the Wheeled Trash Bin, the Adurable Plastic Trash Bin and the Trashe Cann; all other trash cans cannot be kicked.

Sims with the glutton trait can rummage through trash cans for food.