Waste receptacles (100) with pedal-operated lids (108) are provided. A waste receptacle includes an enclosure (102) having an enclosed base portion (104) and at least one sidewall (106) defining an open top portion (105), a lid (108) hingedly coupled to the enclosure and defining a channel, a pedal (112) pivotably coupled to the base portion, and an elongated lift rod (116) having a first end coupled to the pedal and a second end being disposed in the first end of the channel when the pedal is in the first position and the lid is disposed in a closed position and being disposed in the second end of the channel when the pedal is in the second position.