Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler {Review & Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Catherine!}

While I can handle some aspects of a messy house (e.g. a few dishes stacked up or a load of laundry waiting to be done), it's the dreaded clutter that always irks me the most.

Those aggravating piles of... of... stuff that just sit there, taunting me. While they tend to show up in various places, the kitchen is the biggest culprit. No matter how much counter space we have, I seem to turn around and there are papers and empty bottles and miscellaneous bits of junk that have amassed there.

While it seems that my dreams of organization often end up staying in my head, there are times that I come across a product that is able to provide help. From creating more storage to adding an innovative, high-quality way to keep my home clean, that is just what I've found in the form of the Hidden Recycler from Rubbermaid.

For over 70 years, Rubbermaid has worked to manufacture products that help simplify consumers' lives. On a mission to help us get our lives organized so that we have the time and space for what matters most, Rubbermaid's full collection of home organization, storage and cleaning products has always been recognized and trusted to keep our homes neat and functional.

Therefore, I had no doubt that the Hidden Recycler would live up to the high standards that I had for Rubbermaid's inventive products. How could I go wrong with such a unique, helpful item to clear up space in my kitchen?

By allowing us to store our recyclables in an out-of-sight area underneath our cabinets, my mind was already filling with the ways that the Hidden Recycler would be able to benefit our lives. Instead of trekking out to the garage with each can or bottle (or leaving it sitting on the counter), being able to simply open the cabinet door and drop them right in this container would not only save time but would be something easily handled by my kids.

After removing the packaging (made from recyclable material), I found that the Hidden Recycler consisted of only a few easily assembled pieces.

It took only minutes to have the Hidden Recycler put together and ready for use, which was something that I appreciated. After sliding the durable bag onto the plastic handle frame and hooking it in place through each slot...

...I had the choice of attaching the holder to my cabinet with screws or hooks (over the top). As our cabinets were recently replaced in our kitchen remodel, I was relieved to be able to use the hooks, as I wouldn't have felt comfortable screwing anything into the new cabinet doors.

Once the hooks were in place, I found that the holder slid securely (in a tight-but-not-too-tight way) right onto the door.

The bag itself is made from 65% post-consumer resin and is a large, 5 gallon size. This allows for 36 uncrushed cans and is even large enough to fit 1 gallon milk jugs, which is a necessity for a recycling container in our house.

I love that the bag is so durable and thick and that the leak-proof lining can easily be wiped off in case of drips or spills...

...but, even better, the bag can also be removed from the handle and tossed right in the washing machine for even easier cleaning. What a great feature!

After the bag is nice and clean, simply slide it back on the handle and hook it right back to the holder on the cabinet door.

That's it! While the bag is soft and flexible, it does take up some space under the cabinet, so be sure to clear a little room for it. When it comes time for recycling, it is beyond easy to flip up the lid (which keeps any smells inside) and drop the can or bottle right inside.

Due to the generous size of the Hidden Recycler, it takes a bit of time before it is full (but will of course depend on the amount of recyclable materials that your family uses each week). When it is time to empty, this bag is lightweight and easy to hold with the convenient handle. Pull it off the door, carry it to your recycle container outside or in the garage, and use the top and back handles to dump it right out.

No mess, no fuss, no problem!

The only issue that we have encountered is due to the location of our large, undermount sink. As this new sink sits low and deep in the counter, the top of the Hidden Recycler bumps into the corner of it as we close the cabinet door, requiring a little more pressure to fully close the door. However, taking a few quick measurements before purchasing this handy item would easily let you know if it was going to fit and/or take up too much room in your cabinet.

In the end, if this fits in your cupboard well, it's a great addition to have there! By being able to store your recyclables right in the kitchen, yet keep them hidden out of the way, is a wonderful way to encourage your family to go green while keeping organized. No more excuses to not recycle when the bag is hanging right there within reach!

Retailing for around $15.99, the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler is a great space-saver for any size home or apartment. Available for purchase on Rubbermaid.com or at participating Meijer stores, this is one product that makes saving the earth a no-brainer. The Hidden Recycler itself is even recyclable when you're done using it!

And, thanks to the generosity of Rubbermaid, one person will be doing their part to protect the environment as well, because...

One lucky person will win a Hidden Recycler from Rubbermaid!

To enter to win: Visit Rubbermaid and leave a comment on this post telling me another of their innovative products that you would like to try.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Rubbermaid on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

I want to WIN a Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler to help organize while going green! http://bit.ly/Ha46iF @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on April 23rd at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Rubbermaid for providing a Hidden Recycler for me for review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.