A trash can assembly has a lid pivotably coupled to an upper end of an outer shell, and a pivoting pedal bar that is coupled to the lid via a link rod. The closing motion of the lid is dampened by counter-balancing the closing force of the lid, which can be accomplished by generating a counter-balance force against the pedal bar that is equal to or slightly less than the closing force of the lid. The counter-balance force can be made to vary during the closing motion of the lid. In addition, the entire link rod can be positioned inside the interior of the outer shell, and the pivot axis of the lid about the outer shell can also positioned inside the interior of the outer shell.