Our Story

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Once upon a time, Brock Vander Velden lent his power washer out to his neighbor in the small town of McFarland, Wisconsin. When he saw him struggling to clean his garbage and recycling bins, he thought to himself, there’s got to be a better way to do this. Vander Velden grabbed his next-door neighbor and former teammate on the basketball team at University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, Derek Westrum, and set out to find a solution.

The new business partners had some sort of liner in mind. One that would protect the bins, but last much longer than a garbage bag. They spent the next year researching suitable materials before settling on non-woven polypropylene, the same material used in the production of reusable grocery bags. The chosen material would eliminate the need for more plastic bags being dumped in landfills. 

The next step, finding a manufacturer, was no easy task. With no protection on the product at the time, Vander Velden and Westrum found themselves trying to describe what they wanted, without telling manufacturers what it was for. This disconnect eventually led the two neighbors to order some loose material, get out their sewing machines, and create their very own prototype to send off to manufacturers.

Once the manufacturers understood what the men were looking for, another prototype was created – this time including the waterproof coating. They tested the liner and found that by folding the top of the liner over the rim of the bin, it created a vacuum seal against the sides of the bin. Except for the strap that attaches the liner to the bin, there would be no need for additional Velcro or ties.

Over a few years, and lots and lots of prototypes, Brock Vander Velden and Derek Westrum finally got what they were looking for. GreenEase Line-A-Bin is a revolutionary, reusable, and 100% recyclable garbage and recycling bin liner that keeps the mess out of the bin, and in the liner where it belongs.