Produced by Danish manufacturer Vipp, the gold-plated pedal bin will retail at 2,690 and there has already been considerable interest in the product from people in Ireland, according to company spokesman Allan Soerensen.

Many people who have purchased the luxury item also splash out on a matching golden toilet brush, which costs 1,190. "Some people who bought the golden bin came back to us and said their plastic toilet brush just didn't look right beside their gold bin.

They asked us was there anything that could be done. We spoke to the people in our workshop and they developed the gold-plated toilet brush, " said Soerensen.

But do people actually put their rubbish in the bin? "Yes. But it's not just a bin; it's a beautiful object for the home. People who think they need a gold bin have too much money, but when people actually see it, they realise it's much more than a bin and often change their mind. Many people hide their bins under the sink, but the golden bin will always be proudly displayed. It's a piece of art really, " he added.

Vipp will also provide special gold cleaner to maintain the bin. "It is something that will last a lifetime. People who buy them have them forever. Some people put them in their bathrooms and others have them in the kitchen, depending on what size you purchase." The bin comes in four sizes; the smallest costs 1,190 while the largest is priced at 2,690.

The product will be on sale for a limited time at Brown Thomas stores in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. "People are drawn to them when they see them. It's a product made to match a lifestyle, " he added.