Weston re-launches Betterbin recycling app
Village partners with local startup Betterbin to help residents recycle right
VILLAGE OF WESTON, WI, August 8, 2020—The Village of Weston, in partnership with the Marathon County Solid Waste Department, Portage County Material Recovery Facility, Advanced Disposal, and packaging solutions provider Rocket Industrial are bringing the Betterbin app back to Weston residents as a new tool for recycling and disposal education. Last year, Betterbin (then-ERbin) launched the beta test of the app in Weston. That pilot, along with other beta tests in Madison, Charlottesville, VA, and on the UW-Stevens Point and Edgewood College (Madison) campuses helped the startup to redesign, and now re-launch, the app.
“The re-launch couldn’t come at a better time, as the COVID-19 pandemic has induced increases in purchases of single-use products and packaging used at home,” said Michelle Goetsch, Co-founder of Betterbin.”
The Betterbin web app allows residents to scan the UPC barcode, or text search for a product, to get local disposal instructions specific to guidelines defined by the Portage County Material Recovery Facility, where hauler Advanced Disposal brings Weston recovered materials for processing and sale. Less unacceptable items in recycle carts increases processing efficiencies and creates cleaner, more valuable recovered materials for re-sale.
“Just like trash disposal, recycling comes with financial costs,” said Valerie Parker, Planning Technician and Recycling Lead for the Village of Weston. “When we can help our residents put the correct materials in recycle carts, we are doing our part to minimize recycling program costs in the long-term.”
“This is one of those public-private sector partnerships that is tackling a real problem, is supporting innovation in our industry, and has a positive economic and environmental impact right here in our own community,” said Meleesa Johnson, Marathon County Solid Waste Director. “The State mandates that certain materials are banned from landfilling, so anything that supports diversion of those materials from our landfill and supports local economic development is a project we can get behind.”
About Betterbin
Betterbin is a Wausau, WI-based tech and social impact startup, disrupting the traditional waste education scene. Betterbin uses data and technology to make it easier for consumers to recycle right, prevent food waste, and compost right. Learn more at about.betterbin.app.