Bin There, Done That

Recycling Connections is wrapping up the final details of our 2025 Group Compost Bin Purchase Program. Since 1998, Recycling Connections has helped non-profit organizations, government agencies, and schools facilitate sales of over 30,000 Home Composter compost bins. We’re happy to say this was our 2^nd highest year to date with a total of 2,610 bins sold in 28 different communities within Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Through our partnerships we are making a real impact; these bins divert an estimated 1.57 million pounds of food waste every year!

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food scraps and garden waste combined make up more than 28% of what we send to landfills – and it could be recycled instead. Composting yard and kitchen materials is the easiest and cheapest way of taking responsibility for some of our own waste.

When organic waste is sent to landfills, it’s compacted and sealed, creating an oxygen-free environment known as anaerobic conditions. In this type of condition, organic materials break down very slowly through the action of anaerobic microbes which thrive without oxygen. This slow decomposition process produces harmful by-products including acidic liquids and gases. These liquids, known as leachate, seep through the landfill and mix with other waste and form a toxic sludge that must be collected and treated. Meanwhile, methane gases accumulate and must be removed to prevent dangerous buildup that is highly flammable.  Managing these liquids and gases is both costly and resource-intensive.

Composting helps build healthier soils, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and creates a more sustainable future. Every compost bin is a step toward a cleaner planet and Recycling Connections is proud to be a part of that journey.

If you’re interested in starting your composting journey or you want to learn more, send us a message! Ready to buy a bin? Check out our our list of communities where the Home Composter is available!

Of course, we can’t talk about composting without giving a special shout out to our Kitchen Katcher pails, an essential companion to our bins.  These handy pails make it easy to collect food scraps indoors before transferring them to your outdoor bin, helping to make composting a cleaner and more convenient daily habit.

Large Delivery of Pails - Ready to ship to your community!

We saw a strong demand this year: 616 pails sold! We knew we needed to restock quickly. In March, we placed an order for 1,500 new pails, and they arrived at UWSP receiving in May (Thanks UWSP!) In true Recycling Connections fashion, our dedicated staff rolled up their sleeves and unloaded the entire shipment by hand. We’re proud to report it we finished it in just an hour and a half!

You can find our Kitchen Katcher pails on our online shop; take a look here.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR COMPOSTING & RECYCLING CONNECTIONS?

With the 2025 program now wrapped up, we can all take a well-earned breath. While planning for 2026 will begin in just a couple short months, for now, the Recycling Connections team is shifting our focus to our own backyard composting efforts – walking the talk and continuing to divert food waste right at home. Composting truly is the gift that keeps on giving: nurturing soil, reducing waste, and helping build a more sustainable future one apple core at a time.

If you are interested in learning more or being put on the contact list for the 2026 Group Compost Bin Group Order, visit our website or contact Michelle@RecyclingConnections.org