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Ode to Mode, the Recycling Center I Never Knew I Needed

As much as I love to recycle, I have always hated looking at our cheap — and recently cracked — plastic recycling bin, particularly when filled with empty bottles and cans. And so, the bin remained hidden behind the dining table, an inconvenient place once we considered the fact that most of our recycling comes from the kitchen and home office. The bright green recycling bags I received from Kangaroom last year helped a little and were great for paper, but they weren’t the prettiest to look at. They stayed hidden with the other bin, an annoying distance from the kitchen. A few weeks ago I ventured in to TJ Maxx looking for some organic sheets for my daughter’s bed. On my way back to the bedding department, I walked by a huge box that may as well have been glowing, like it was put there especially for me by the recycling angels.

The Mode RCC-500 Recycling Center appeared from out of nowhere to answer my prayers. OK…not really, but that’s the way it felt at the time. To make this great find even better, it was on clearance for $50, marked down from an already low TJ Maxx price of $99. Seriously? $50? Buying it was a no brainer. And in the weeks that we’ve had it, I’ve never regretted that decision.

There are three compartments: A deep one in the back for plastics, glass and cans, and two shallower ones in the front for paper and overflow bottles. The three bins lining these compartments nest inside each other (see these photos) to make it easier to take them all at one time. It also has a clock and timer that you can set to alarm on recycling day. This isn’t very useful for us as it would be for someone who had curbside recycling. We have to take our recycling to the center ourselves, so it would be more useful for us if it would alarm when all the bins are full.

What’s more impressive, though, is that it looks like it belongs in the kitchen. It looks like an appliance, albeit a very large one, so it doesn’t stick out in spite of its size. It helps, of course, that the appliances in our apartment are also black, but Mode’s premium (read: larger and more expensive) unit also comes in a stainless finish. I used to think recycling centers were a waste of money — until I started trying to create a beautiful home around a recycling station that completely defied my powers of creative concealment. I am a person who likes to have a place for everything, and I thrive when surrounded by order and beautiful things, so this is a great solution for our household.

I do have two complaints, though. The paper bin is designed to accommodate newspapers, magazines and other regular-sized paper, but not much else. So when we break down cereal boxes or other food packaging, it’s a pain to try to make them fit. Mode should rethink the size of the paper bin in its next design, taking into account that “paper” recycling also includes cardboard that can tend to be large and irregularly shaped once it is flattened. I also wish the system came equipped with a compacter, which would allow us to fit more items in a smaller space. To be fair though, this feature is included on the larger unit. For the price, we’re really happy with it. I don’t know that I’d cough up the retail price, which is more than 3 times what we paid, but if you have the extra money to spend, I think it would be worth the investment.

Price: $179.99 directly from Mode and from other online retailers. We paid $50 for it on clearance at TJ Maxx.

NOTE: I was not compensated in any way for this post. This is a product I bought with my own money and love enough to share it with you

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Ode to Mode, the Recycling Center I Never Knew I Needed

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Ode to Mode, the Recycling Center I Never Knew I Needed

2010 Builders’ Show Products, Part 2: Green Products

Among the many products on display at last week’s International Builders’ Show were a number of introductions that can contribute to a sustainably built home. Here is a sampling of 10 eco-friendly finds from the show floor.

Leviton Mfg. Designed for use with a wide variety of dimmable CFL light bulbs, the Decora CFL Slide Dimmer optimizes the performance of dimmable CFL bulbs. Unlike standard dimmers that are not always compatible with dimmable CFLs, the CFL Slide Dimmer detects whether the bulb is an incandescent or a dimmable CFL, determines high- and low-end dimming capabilities, and adjusts the dimming range accordingly. The CFL Slide simmer helps eliminate problems dimming CFLs with standard dimmers, such as flickering or a small range of dimming. www.leviton.com. –Lauren Hunter

 

 

CertainTeed. EnerGen solar roofing features Uni-Solar thin-film laminates that install with no roof penetrations and lie flush with traditional shingles for a streamlined appearance. The shingles provide .5 kW per 100 square feet. Designed for installation by building and roofing pros, the system comes with in pre-engineered kits with all components. www.certainteed.com. –Katy Tomasulo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dow. The company previewed its Powerhouse solar shingles, building-integrated photovoltaics that install flat against the roof deck in the same manner as an asphalt shingle. The shingles require no on-roof wiring and can be installed by builders and roofers; the electrical circuitry is integrated into each shingle, the company says, and the shingles link to each other via plug-style connectors and then require only minimum roof penetration to connect to the home. Though specific specs are not yet available, Powerhouse, which will be available in 2011, is estimated to provide about 40 percent to 80 percent of a typical home’s energy needs. www.dow.com. –K.T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sherwin-Williams. The company has enhanced its Harmony product with a formula that helps reduce odors in the air, similar to baking soda, even after a surface is painted, the maker says. The zero-VOC product now also sports better hide and more durability, the firm adds, and antimicrobial properties help it resist mildew. The latex paint is Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified and Greenguard Certified for Children and Schools. www.sherwinwilliams.com. –Victoria Markovitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delta. The Linden pull-out faucet offers consumers a choice of water-saving flow or traditional flow. When turned on, the unit operates at 1.5 gallons per minute for needs such as hand washing; a push button on the spout can be depressed for a faster flow for tasks that require a faster flow, such as pot filling. Linden features a transitional style, with clean lines and a flared wand. The company’s Diamond Seal technology reduces leak points and simplifies installation. www.deltafaucet.com. –K.T.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GE. Currently in testing, the company’s smart-grid-enabled appliances will communicate between the utility and the homeowner to ensure appliances are operating at the optimum time of day, lessening the load on the power grid and saving the homeowner money. For example, the refrigerator will hold the high-energy defrost cycle until off-peak hours; the water heater will operate in its most efficient mode during high-demand periods; and appliances will shift to power-saving modes until rates are lower. Accompanying this launch will be the introduction of a Home Energy Manager (shown), which will monitor energy use throughout the home. The 7-inch touchscreen display provides a graphical interface to view real-time and long-term energy consumption, as well as water consumption, solar energy generation (if applicable), weather forecasts, and more. www.ge.com. –K.T.

 

Broan-NuTone. The company’s recessed fan/lights now include a sensor that turns the fan on when it senses a quick rise in humidity then turns it off automatically. The Energy Star-rated unit looks like a traditional recessed light, but contains a concealed 70-cfm ventilation fan that operates at 1.5 sones. The auto shut-off feature is adjustable from five to 60 minutes or can be operated manually. The fan is UL listed for use over the tub or shower. www.broan.com. –K.T.

 

 

 

 

Georgia-Pacific. DryPly plywood subfloor has a water-repellant coating that absorbs up to 40% less water during the normal construction cycle than uncoated plywood, the maker says. Backed by a lifetime limited warranty, the product is also SFI certified. www.gp.com. –V.M.

 

 

 

 

Huber Engineered Woods. The company has refined the tape gun for its ZIP System of structural roof and wall sheathing, which feature a built-in air and moisture barrier to eliminate the need for felt and housewrap. The tape gun, which is used to seal panel seams, loads twice as fast as the original gun and is designed to be more durable on the jobsite. www.zipsystem.com. –K.T.

 

 

 

 

Amana. The Tandem laundry pair is designed to offer increased capacity, high efficiency, and a stylish look at a more affordable price point, says the firm. The Energy Star-rated washer uses 73 percent less water and 71 percent less energy than conventional top loaders, according to the company, and it is CEE Tier 3-qualified. Both units feature sound dampeners for quiet operation and “Touch and Go” controls for simple programming. www.insideadvantage.com. –K.T.

 

 

 

 

EarthTronics. By harvesting energy from the tips of the turbine blades, rather than through a mechanical center gear, the Honeywell Wind Turbine from WindTronics starts producing energy at 2 mph and remains operational through 42 mph, the maker says, unlike traditional turbines that start generating energy at 7.5 mph and shut down at 29 mph. The unit can produce 2,000 kWh a year in Class 3 winds and 2,752 kWh a year in Class 4 winds while operating at a height of 33 feet. www.windtronics.com. –V.M.

Read more here:
2010 Builders’ Show Products, Part 2: Green Products

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