A trash can assembly has an outer shell having an enclosing wall, a top end, and a bottom end. The assembly includes a pedal bar pivotably coupled to the bottom end, a lid pivotably coupled to the top end, and a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, with the lifting rod coupling the lid and the rear end of the pedal bar. An air damper is provided inside the outer shell and coupled to the rear of the pedal bar for applying an opposing force against the downward motion of the rear of the pedal bar.