Turning Waste into Opportunity
At BinToBetter, we believe that waste isn't just trash; it's opportunity. Every year, countless items with value and potential end up in landfills simply because they no longer serve their original purpose. Our mission is to change that narrative.
We're driven by a simple yet powerful idea: that one person's excess can be another's solution. Whether it's used tennis balls, old electronics, or other overlooked resources, we aim to connect those who have with those who need. By building bridges between individuals, communities, and organizations, we promote a culture of reuse and responsible recycling.
Through education, partnerships, and hands-on initiatives, BinToBetter empowers people to rethink waste and become part of a more sustainable, circular future. Together, we can turn what would've been thrown away into something better for people, for communities, and for the planet.
Projects Preview
Below are snapshots of our three main projects. Click “View More” on each card to dive deeper into the details.
Bounce Back
Collects used tennis balls from clubs and repurposes them for schools (chair legs to reduce noise), animal shelters, and assisted living centers (walker feet).
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Tech to Treasure
Collects old devices and turns them into educational tools before responsibly recycling all parts through an e‑waste program.
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Eco‑Fillament
Repurposes plastic bottles into 3D printer filament used for tools donated to students with special needs.
View MoreWhat People Say
Blacow Elementary School
Thank you very much for your donation of 140 gently used tennis balls to my third grade Spanish immersion classroom at Blacow Elementary School. Cutting each individual ball so that it can fit each student leg chair must have been a lot of work! We are so appreciative of your time and effort in giving the tennis balls a new second life instead of throwing them into the landfill.
Your donation has been well received by my students. Their chairs are way gentler on the waxed floors and is saving the floors from being scratched. Most importantly classroom activity transitions are so much more quiet as the students get up from or come to sit in their chairs.
Much appreciation for your thoughtfulness. Thank you, thank you!
— Andrea MacKenzie, 3rd grade Spanish Immersion Teacher, Blacow Elementary
Allie’s Doggie Day Camp
Thank you so much for dropping off the balls at the doggy day camp! The dogs absolutely love them, and I truly appreciate it as well. Whether they’re playing or just need something to chew on when they’re feeling stressed, those balls bring them so much joy. Your thoughtful contribution has made a big difference in supporting the pups here. We’re incredibly grateful for your kindness and generosity. Thank you again, and we wish you all the best.
— Allie, owner of Allie’s Doggie Day Camp
Irvington High School
My experience with Bin to Better has been extremely positive. The team was very thoughtful and communicated clearly throughout the entire process. The donated tennis balls have made a noticeable difference in my classroom by significantly reducing noise from chairs/desks.
This has helped create a calmer and more focused learning environment where students can concentrate better and transitions are much smoother. This is especially helpful when we are moving the chairs around for group work. It is a simple solution that has had a real and positive impact on daily classroom learning.
— Grace Shin, Irvington High School Teacher
Oliveira Elementary
Bin to Better did a great service to my classroom! They personally came to help me install the tennis balls on the chair legs, and now the classroom is much quieter and more productive. The floors are safer and protected from the chairs scraping against them, and the students were so surprised to see how the tennis balls could be repurposed into something new! I would highly recommend them to any classroom.
— Brandon Lee, Oliveira Elementary TK Teacher
Bringhurst Elementary
Adding tennis balls to our chair legs has made an immediate difference in our third-grade classroom. The reduced noise has helped students focus during reading and small-group work, and transitions are smoother because the room stays calm. It’s a simple change with a big impact on learning.
— Yuji Yang, Dual Language English and Mandarin Teacher, Bringhurst Elementary
Follow Us on Social
Stay updated on our latest activities by following us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bintobetter/
We post regular updates, project milestones, and community stories.
About
Our Mission & Vision
At Bin to Better, we believe that waste isn’t just trash, it’s an opportunity. Countless items with value end up in landfills each year simply because they no longer serve their original purpose. We are committed to changing that narrative by promoting reuse, responsible recycling and the circular economy.
Our goal is to empower individuals and communities to rethink waste and realize that what seems like rubbish can become a resource for someone else. By connecting people with excess to those with needs, we bridge gaps and foster a culture of giving and sustainability.
Origin Story
Two high school students founded Bin to Better, Lalit Sreekar Batchu and Rohan Sashank Babbellapati, who witnessed firsthand the scale of everyday waste. Rohan, an avid tennis player on his school team, noticed how quickly tennis balls were discarded after just a few uses, even though they remained perfectly usable in other contexts. He approached Lalit with the idea of starting an organization that could repurpose these items. Together they launched Bin to Better to give new purpose to what others might throw away.
Our Approach
- Education: Through workshops and outreach we teach communities about the importance of reuse, recycling and sustainability.
- Partnerships: We collaborate with tennis clubs, schools, animal shelters and other organizations to collect unused materials and distribute them to those in need.
- Hands‑on Initiatives: Our projects provide tangible ways for volunteers to participate, collecting tennis balls, disassembling electronics or repurposing plastic waste into building materials.
Partners
Our mission wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners. We collaborate with tennis clubs, academies, schools and animal shelters to collect materials and ensure they are put to good use.
Tennis Clubs & Academies
- Mission Hills Swim and Racquet Club
- Los Gatos Swim and Racquet Club
- NorCal Tennis Academy
- Mountain View Tennis
- Lifetime Activities – Santa Clara & Sunnyvale
- Kim Grant Tennis Academy
- Cupertino Hills Swim & Racquet Club
- Kona Kai Swim & Racquet Club
- San José Swim & Racquet Club
Animal Shelters & Pet Services
- Allie’s Doggie Day Camp
- Lucky Buddies Pet Sitting
- Furrtropolis
- A Pet Villa Dog Boarding and Grooming
Interested in partnering with us? Contact us at bintobetter@gmail.com to learn how your organization can join the movement.
Corporate Partners
Bin to Better works with mission-aligned businesses that support our programs through sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and community partnerships. Corporate partners help us expand our impact, reach more communities, and scale our sustainability and education initiatives.
Business Partners
- Sun Dragon Computers
Interested in becoming a corporate partner? Contact us at outreach@bintobetter.org to learn how your organization can support Bin to Better and be featured as a partner.
Bounce Back Project
The Focus of Our Efforts
Nearly all of the 330 million tennis balls produced each year end up in landfills, where they can take more than 400 years to decompose. The Bounce Back Project reduces waste by finding creative ways to give used tennis balls a second life.
What We Do
- Collection: Every month our team collects between 3,000 and 5,000 used balls from local clubs.
- Reuse: Balls are donated to schools (chair legs), animal shelters (enrichment toys), and assisted living centers (walker feet).
- Impact: Since launching just over a year ago we have collected more than 100,000 tennis balls and donated over 30,000 to organizations that can use them effectively.
- Get Involved: Clubs interested in participating can visit the Partners page or contact us directly to arrange a pickup.
Tech to Treasure
A Device’s Second Chance
Millions of electronics are discarded each year, often without proper recycling, contributing to growing e‑waste and environmental harm. Tech to Treasure addresses this issue while inspiring the next generation of innovators.
What We Do
- Collection & Education: We gather unused devices and transform them into educational tools through free, interactive workshops.
- Hands‑On Learning: Students disassemble devices to learn about RAM, memory, circuit boards and power systems.
- Responsible Recycling: After sessions, all parts are responsibly recycled through Best Buy’s e‑waste program.
Students interested should join our Discord to get involved for future events: https://tinyurl.com/b2bdisc
Eco‑Fillament
The New Building Blocks of Society
Eco‑Fillament repurposes plastic waste (collected from trash cleanups in local parks) into 3D printer filament used to develop toys and tools for kids with special needs. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep plastic out of landfills and give it a second life.
If you are interested in attending volunteering events (you will get volunteer hours) to cleanup our parks, please join our Discord: https://tinyurl.com/b2bdisc
Officers & Team
Our organization is led by a dedicated group of students and volunteers. The officers work together across various teams to ensure the success of each program.
Executives
- Lalit Batchu (Co-Founder and Co-Prez), American High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: My full name has 6 words!
- Rohan Babbellapati (Co-Founder and Co-Prez), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 15 seconds!
- Pradyun Kanuparthi (Vice President), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I start on varsity basketball
Outreach
- Harmonie Lee (Outreach Director), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I get Chick-fil-A every week
- Clovis Zhang (Outreach Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I’m addicted to Pokémon Go
- Krishan Ranjan (Outreach Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I’ve visited over 15 states in the US
Eco‑Fillament
- Saket Sandru (Eco-Filament Director), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I broke the bone in the human body thats hardest to heal
- Nameh Gupta (Eco-Filament Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I like gardening in my free time.
- Atiksh Jain (Eco-Filament Lead), American High School Grade 9, Fun Fact: I have traveled to 15 countries.
Fundraising
- Vihaan Sanghvi (Fundraising Director), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I love traveling
- Abhay Shankar (Fundraising Lead), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I have a labradoodle named Milo
- Yuva Chandrachood (Fundraising Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I am 6’1
- Hala Amer (Fundraising Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I recently built a 3D printer.
Tech to Treasure
- Preston Hu (Tech to Treasure Director), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I do card magic!
- Anwen Li (Tech to Treasure Lead), American High School Grade 9, Fun Fact: I can speak 4 languages
- Deenadarrshan Sathiyamoorthi (Tech to Treasure Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I like to play basketball
- Sunny Yang (Tech to Treasure Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I have two cats.
- Abhi Ghosh (Tech to Treasure Lead), American High School Grade 9, Fun Fact: I like to build computers!
Bounce Back
- Hala Amer (Bounce Back Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I recently built a 3D printer.
- Clovis Zhang (Bounce Back Lead), American High School Grade 10, Fun Fact: I’m addicted to Pokémon Go
Media & Administrative
- Pradyun Kanuparthi (Marketing Director), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I start on varsity basketball
- William Lam (Scriptwriter), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I run track and field
- Zerek Kao (Scriptwriter), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I get no minutes on varsity basketball
- Shreshta Parampalli (Speaker), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I start on varsity basketball
- Advaith Dhumal Rao (Video Editor), Mission San Jose High School Grade 11, Fun Fact: I was ranked number 1 in the nation for cricket in my age group last year
Public Relations
- Linhan (Publicist), American High School Grade 9, Fun Fact: I can count to 100 in Chinese in one breath.
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, want to donate materials or are interested in volunteering, please get in touch.
Get in touch
Contact form
Donate
Your support helps us turn waste into opportunity. Donations allow us to expand our collection efforts, develop new projects and reach more communities.
Make a Difference
If you’d like to contribute, please visit:
https://charity.pledgeit.org/bintobetter
Every contribution, no matter the size, helps build a cleaner, more sustainable future.