In celebration of Earth Day this year, I decided that I was going to make a dedicated effort to recycle more. The problem was – recycling is a hassle! 

Cardboard boxes everywhere, aluminum cans scattered about, shredded mail, magazines, etc. All that stuff piles up in my kitchen and just looks messy. After a Google search, I found a possible solution. Mode’s Premium All-In-One Home Recycle Center. 

This product has revolutionized my recycle efforts and manages to look amazing in the process. Here’s how:

1)       It Compacts – the unit comes with a compactor to crush aluminum cans and plastic bottles making them much smaller and easier to store. You open the lid, put the can or bottle in, close the lid, and step on the foot pedal at the bottom. After crushing the unit, it falls into the storage bin in the back and the unit is ready to crush another. It also is child proof because the lid has to be closed before the crusher will operate correctly.

2)      It Sorts – There are two bins on the unit. The back bin is accessible through a door behind the compacting door and allows you to drop things into the same compartment the cans and plastic bottles fall into. This bin has an 8 gallon capacity and is equipped with handles to lift the bin out of the recycle center. 

There are special bags made from #4 LDPE recycled material available an MSRP of $7.99 for 20. That’s pricey but they last a long time since the cans and bottles are crushed. I think these are worth the investment as they fit the bin perfectly, they aren’t flimsy, and allow you to tie it up and take it directly to your recycle bin outside! Thirteen gallon trash cans are too big and bulk up - although they will work. The front bin accommodates five gallons of material and is accessible from a door in the front.  

It is perfect for newspapers, junk mail that doesn’t need shredded, and magazines. There is even a mail slot so you can just drop unopened junk mail envelops into. The best part of the bins is that the front bin will stack on top of the back bin for easy transportation outside!

3)      It has a Digital Reminder and Tracker – the premium unit has a clock and timer on the front which you can set to remind you of recycle day. It will also help you “Eco-Track” how much you are recycling. Interesting but some will not feel this is worth the extra money.

The recycle centers come in several models – one in all black and one stainless steel to accommodate most kitchen themes. The premium unit is 30”x15”x17” in size and weighs 46 lbs. The different models can be found at www.modeproducts.com. 

Prices vary online but the unit I reviewed retails for $299 and goes down from there. At the time of publication, Amazon was carrying the recycle centers and bags. If you’re serious about organizing your recyclables, this is the Rolls-Royce of recycle centers. It’s an investment, but worth it in my household.