Customer Reviews

Suncast Recycle Bin Kit BH183PK

5 star:		(127)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Our local municipality does not offer recycling but there are sites around town available for dropping it off. I needed something sturdy, stackable & clean looking so I could sort my recycling without looking cluttered and taking up too much space and these bins fit the bill.

I ordered 2 sets (of 3) and now I can sort my plastics, aluminum, tin, paper, newspaper & plastic bags so much easier. They stack nicely and the dimensions are large enough that I'm not having to run to the recycling bins every other day because they get full. The lids are nice because they keep my kids and any critters out but the flaps will stay up if you want them to be. The flap opening is large enough for me to put large juice containers in without having to lift the lid up.

These have allowed me the organization and the clean look that I was wanting in order to make, what is a priority for me, easy for the entire family.

My only regret with my purchase of the Suncast Recycle Bin Kit is that I didn't buy it sooner. My boyfriend and I both love these bins because they've made recycling in our 2nd floor apartment monumentally easier and more organized.

Living on the 2nd floor means hauling our garbage and recycling downstairs. For the first few months at this new apartment, our recycling method consisted of piling up empty jars, bottles, cans, etc. at the end of the kitchen counter, until we finally put them in a shopping bag to carry downstairs to the communal bins. Either our counter was always cluttered, or a bag of recyclables sat by the front door waiting to be brought downstairs.

Now, we have these Suncast bins stacked in our utility/storage closet, conveniently located right between the kitchen and front door. It's SO easy and convenient now to just open the door, flip open the large flap, and toss the recyclables in. The colors make it even easier to remember what goes in which bin. (Speaking of the colors, as other reviewers have noted, they are brighter in the manufacturer's picture than they are in real life. I prefer the less neon colors so this was a plus for me.)

Another improvement since receiving these is our recycling output has increased. Whereas previously, I might've just tossed, say, an empty paper towel roll, those little things now get put in the bins for recycling. And all those little things sure do add up!

But the biggest improvement is probably that, thanks to the large capacity of the bins, we only have to carry them downstairs to dump in the communal bins once a week--even with our increased output! And despite their large capacity, this stack has a relatively small footprint. There's still plenty of space left in the closet we have them in.

I've gotta tell you--I looked all over for other solutions before finally deciding on this set, and nothing else compared. If I had tons of lower cabinet space, I might have gone for one of those pull-out varieties that require installation. But that's just not the case for us. Not to mention, those solutions are pricier and have a smaller capacity, so I would've likely gone for these anyway. In my search, I actually came across a nearly identical Suncast bin, in a neutral color, sold individually. Even that was significantly more expensive than the per bin cost of this set. I was left with no choice but to purchase this set after determining that, not only was it the best solution, but also the best value!

To sum it up, this Suncast Recycle Bin Kit provides:
* Large capacity for holding recyclables -- my household consisting of two adults requires just once-a-week emptying
* A small footprint -- takes up less than half of our utility closet's floor space
* Easy organization -- color-coded and stackable with easy access to all three bins
* An unbeatable price -- three large, quality bins for this price is an absolute steal

We've already raved about these to our friends and I'm completely confident in recommending them to everyone here on Amazon. Trust me when I say you won't regret this purchase!

P.S. Although these are marketed as recycling bins, they'd make great storage bins for a huge variety of things. We're considering buying another set to use in our small outside storage unit and on our terrace. Two of them may be used for storing dirt and compost for our container gardening. Imagine how easy it'll be to just open the flap and scoop out the dirt. There are just so many possibilities for these!

*******

UPDATE 2/5/10: We never did buy another set (ended up just using 5 gal. buckets for dirt, compost, etc.) But the bins are still going strong after more than a year of somewhat heavy use and I really can't imagine how we'd manage recycling so much without them. Definitely remains one of my favorite purchases for the apartment, in terms of usefulness.

These bins are well designed and sturdy.They are stackable with easy access doors and make recycling cleaner and more attractive.The bins were a bit larger than I expected and take up a fair amount of floor space.

These are great bins. The only reason why I can't give it 5 stars is because it's $50 for 3 bins!! What really urks me is that Wal Mart has these exact same for $10 each. Only they are grey and I am picky about the coloring. I bought a set of these here with a $25 gift card so I wouldn't feel guilty about paying so much. Well, my wife and I love to recycle everything possible, so we want to get another 3. Just got another $25 gift card so it's justified again....I guess.

These bins are really great though. The lids have managed to stay open most of the time, but they are thin plastic that holds them up so I don't forsee it working forever. Like other reviews, the green is not so neon like in the picture. In fact, these bins are very attractive and I'm proud to display them in the garage. They really do hold a bunch of cans, milk jugs and glass, but not so much cardboard boxes. So it's a great product if you can justify spending $50. If not, check your Walmart in the bin section for some grey ones w/ black tops.

Great product for staging your recycled materials. The front angled lid makes it easy to put things in and the lid stays down when moving the bin. Amazon delivered on time as promised again. Way to go!

We really enjoy our recycle bins. But when they arrived one of the six bins (we ordered two sets) had a hole in it. and two of the six lids were cracked (so much that they could not be used). I was very disapointed. The bins do stack nicely and they hold a good amount of stuff. The lid pops up and sticks so you don't have to worry about it falling on you when your hands our full.

I have to take our recycling to a center and I was going 1-2 times a week using small containers. These are great! They hold enough so I can go about 2 weeks or more before I need to go. I had trouble with a coule of the lids not working right. I called the company and had new lids within the week. Would buy again!

Our local animal shelter's adoption center loves to recycle everything that can be recycled. We were simply collecting cans and bottles in reusable grocery bags until we decided we really needed something better and with a bit more appeal than plastic grocery bags that hung from a nail. We wanted a permanent fixture that will last and is easy to use daily. We had some criteria that needed to be met in order to spend the coveted money on such a purchase:

* It must be durable and generally worth the money. We can find all sorts of ways to waste money, but we can't waste a dime when it comes to non-profit animal rescue and our endless vet bills.
* It needs to be able to fit in a tight space. We store these types of things in the mud room - a small, isolated entryway. Key word: entryway. People coming in and out will be looking right at them. They don't need to look sleek and fancy, but it should be better than those embarrassing grocery bags on those nails. And they need to fit in the only space in which we have room for these bins.
* It needs to hold a lot. Our adoption center is not in an area that is eligible for our recycling plant's pickup service, so a volunteer either takes it home (if they are on the route) or makes the drive to a drop-off center. That means we aren't able to have them cleaned out routinely.
* It needs to be easy to wash. Not everyone is going to painstakingly rinse out every empty soda can. C'mon. We need to be able to hose out these bad boys every now and then. We're practical kind of people! Be realistic!
* It needs to be easy to move around and reposition. We are in a college town and rely on volunteers for everything - we're an all-volunteer animal rescue group. So young college girls and older volunteers can't pick up and lug around over-sized bins, whether they're full or empty. And we can't rely solely on strong, burly guys to do the job. They don't want to take out the garbage at their own houses!

I didn't believe these bins would meet all the criteria when I first purchased them and awaited their delivery. I didn't want to expect too much, just to be disappointed. But I wasn't disappointed at all. Believe it or not, these bins met all our criteria. We've had them a few weeks now, and have enjoyed them immensely. Naturally, we're easily entertained if we get excited over a set of plastic bins. But we're just simple folk, I suppose. Here's how they exceeded our expectations:

* I was hesitant to purchase them, but I knew I could return them if they just weren't what we were looking for or possibly find another use for them. But they suddenly went on sale and I jumped at the deal. Free Super Saver shipping, too. Not bad at all! They arrived promptly (kudos to FedEx). I was so curious about them that I opened the box the second I realized they were delivered. I fell in love with them at first sight, to be honest. I took them out and stacked them in my living room. The lids have doors that you can pull up to open. The lids also snap shut, like most plastic bins with lids. That can help reduce odor. I was thinking they would be thin, cheap plastic. They aren't the most durable plastic I've seen, but it's durable enough for indoor usage. If they were slammed up and down from a pickup truck or workers who personally handle the bins, then I can see how any bins get damaged. My city's sanitation service has broken two gigantic garbage bins in my driveway just by weekly usage. They get slammed sown by the trucks, not gently placed back onto the concrete. It happens. But these bins are for storage and light use anyway, so they would get the job done outside if they aren't handled roughly too often. But I would protect them under an awning or inside a garage or shed.

* These bins are easy to access from a few different angles, so it was easy to position them to where we can open the door and not be blocked in any way and still walk up to these bins to insert or remove the recyclables. All three (or more than three, if you want to buy multiple sets) are easy to stack and reposition to put them in any order your OCD heart desires.

* These bins can easily hold 100+ aluminum cans, uncrushed. I'm terrible at guessing capacity, but I'd say they hold possibly 18 gallons - maybe more. They hold enough that we plan to replace old rolling bins with broken wheels with these. We have three main rooms in our cat adoption center, so these are perfect for holding dry food. I don't know how well they'll keep the food fresh, but it might not be a problem when we consider how quickly we go through dry food with our adoptable cats. I'd be hesitant to use them to hold cat litter, though. Cat litter is so heavy that we might prefer to use bins with wheels. If we placed these bins on a cart that rolls, then I'd reconsider. But that might be pushing it. This is a review, not an endorsement.

* We throw in empty canned cat food cans with our aluminum cans, so the smell of the cans some volunteers "forget" to rinse out became a problem when dealing with the grocery bags. Having a lid to block out odors helps a lot. If you're serious about odors like us, we recommend lining these bins with large trash bags that help block odor-causing germs. We recommend these if you like simplicity as much as we do and would like to be able to take the lids off, lift the bags out of the bins, tie them up and roll with them! That makes clean-up effortless, too, and will help protect the bins for a longer life. And it can prolong your life by cutting down on stress and making one more chore easier to handle.

* These bins stack on top of one another, lid or no lid. Pretty versatile. It's easy for us to reposition them and tote them around. The lids aren't blocked by the bin above it, since they decline downward. The lids' handles are the perfect size to stick a label on. It's smooth enough for a sticky label to go on and stay on, like an address label or a real label from a label maker. All in all, they're pretty user-friendly and idiot-friendly. That means a lot in my day-to-day life. I don't use fool-proof. It doesn't begin to describe the needs of others. "Idiot-friendly" gives a more accurate representation. I'm just glad that all our volunteers are pretty smart. And they all love these bins!

~ What if I wanted to use it outside? The plastic these bins are molded from are durable enough to get the job(s) done for a long time, so the quality is pretty good for the price. Rubbermaid's Roughneck bins are the most durable bins I've ever purchased, and those bins are terrific. These don't compare to those, but a set of three bins made like the Roughnecks would easily cost upwards of $50 to $60. If you're looking for something that can withstand heavy usage and a little manhandling every now and then, I'd say spend the extra money and get the most durable thing and look at it like an investment. You'd waste money buying a cheaper likeness of less quality.

I'd recommend these in a tool shed or garage. If you'd like to be able to pick these things up again, I wouldn't use it to store soil or tools. These things are too bulky to strain yourself, because they do hold a lot. Having a bulky bin (three, to be exact) isn't a bad thing, because that means more space. But I'd put them on something that rolls if you want to move them around frequently. If you have less heavy items in these, then I can see where they'd likely do well being hauled around. The plastic is light enough to pick up and move around, and they're molded to be able to be lifted by the bottom or the sides (if it isn't too heavy). Any child 8+ or elderly person can handle them when they're empty. But I hope no one in these age groups are forced to haul large, heavy objects around! So this bit of info about storing heavy things inside these bins isn't very relevant. But I'm just sharing my opinion on the notion.

Considering the bold colors, easy-wash plastic and easy-open lids, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for a child's bedroom or playroom. I think they're durable enough to outlast being driven into by a remote-controlled car or to survive being used as Barbie Mountain. It's already a colorful display, but I can see the yellow bin being a target as a little artist's canvas. But I couldn't bring myself to wash it off. That would be something I'd love to still look at ten and twenty years or more down the road.

I'm considering these in my teeny laundry room, too. There are some tasks that require stacking bins, and I haven't seen stackable laundry baskets. I've found stackable or tiered hampers, but not at this lower price. I don't have a huge house, so I don't need a standalone hamper in every bathroom or bedroom. Sometimes I get a lazy family member tossing soiled garments in the laundry room for prompt washing from the laundry fairy. All moms have those, right? A laundry fairy magically knows how to immediately detect every flaw and stain on the garment through ESP and is able to perform the soaking, stain remover scrubbing, color treating, proper washing in the right temperature and proper drying method - all in time for the big whatever in just a few hours! There seems to be a dishes fairy, bathroom counter fairy and general floor care fairy, as well. Perhaps they could use some stackable bins, as well! But my laundry room issue lies in the random throwing: "Oh, no! My favorite jeans are ruined! What happened?" Well, sweetheart, you didn't know that the pile of dirty clothes you threw your beloved jeans on had a dirty washrag on top. The rag was used to clean the kitchen counter tops. Guess what else was used to clean the counter tops? Yep. A cleaner with bleach. So I can see where I need something to fit in a small space that I can separate really soiled stuff from the others. I'm seeing washrags with bleach, oil or other textile death-inducing substances sitting on the bottom and having the other two bins separate whites from colors to avoid the inevitable, "Oh, no! My favorite white t-shirt! What happened? I look like the Easter Bunny!" Notice how any ruined garment is promoted to "favorite" posthumously.

I recommend waiting for a sale on these things because I never like to pay full-price for anything. But I haven't seen these in a store in any town I've been in. If a store stocked these, they'd hike up the price. If you're looking for the best quality for your money, I think you've found it. But that's just one opinion. These things fit into the reality of day-to-day life and are versatile enough to fit into yours, too. We use them for recycling, but I have a list of tasks these bins could perform. We use our set every day, and we appreciate the ease is gave us in order to recycle.

The Suncast Recycle Bin kit is an excellent choice. The bins hold a surprisingly large amount, and stack securely. The covers come off, making it easy to unload and clean, and the accessible hatch on the lids makes loading easy. They could be built more stoutly -- one of mine was damaged in shipping -- but the company replaced the entire set immediately, free of charge. In all, this is a real bargain.

Works well for different types of items for recycling. the lid stays up when needed and it can hold a lot. Cheaper at amazon than other places I checked and you get free shipping. It would have cost me double purchasing elsewhere.