About

The Bunny Bin restores secondhand toys through a careful cleaning and repair process, giving each one a second chance. What sets us apart is this blend of circular economy principles and emotional storytelling. It’s not just extending a toy’s life; it’s prolonging its purpose. By reconnecting families to the joy of caring for something with a history, The Bunny Bin creates lasting value in a space dominated by disposable, mass-produced products.

Mission

If something brings you joy, should it ever end up in a landfill?

The Bunny Bin doesn’t think so. We’re redefining our relationships to the objects that matter to us. Because something as innocent as a childhood toy has no business hurting the planet.

And sadly, that’s what happens. Toys are among the most plastic-intensive products on the market. The toy industry is a $120 billion global market. The U.S. accounts for 40% of it, despite being home to only 3.1% of the world's children. 90% of toys are made from plastic, and an estimated 80% end up in landfills, incinerators, or the ocean. Toys alone account for 6% of all landfill plastics.

By intercepting gently-loved toys before they are discarded, The Bunny Bin is expanding access to circular, lower-waste alternatives to buying new. We aim to reduce the stigma around used items, bring joy back into reuse, and demonstrate that, as a culture, we already have much of what we need or could possibly want.

We also believe more businesses have a responsibility to do good. The Bunny Bin is therefore built with that intention, and we hope, in doing so, to be a model for what a mission-first business can look like. We seek to foster a broader movement rooted in thoughtful design, reuse, and mindful consumption, while encouraging other companies to prioritize longevity, repairability, and environmental responsibility from the start.

Close-up of a woman holding a black and brown dog with white and tan fur, both looking at the camera, in an indoor setting.

Who We Are

The Bunny Bin was founded by Kate Niemczyk, a journalist with a background in environmental and social justice storytelling. After years reporting on climate change at national news networks including ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News—and watching the journalism industry fracture around her, both in structure and principle—Kate launched The Bunny Bin in 2025 as a tangible way to push back against the buy-discard-repeat cycle that defines so much of modern consumption.

It was something she’d been questioning in one form or another since first reading Margery Williams’ The Velveteen Rabbit as a child, which you can read for free on our website. Just like the 1922 favorite, The Bunny Bin challenges the notion that newness is synonymous with value, that love is interchangeable, and that replacement is progress—and it rejects a culture that normalizes disposability, even in the objects we once held close.

What began as a small rescue effort quickly grew with the support of Kate’s family, friends, and a close-knit Vermont community, whose generosity and belief in the mission have shaped The Bunny Bin from the start.

The operation is also overseen by Kate’s dog Bernie, the Official Guardian of the Toys. A lifelong enthusiast of all things squishy, Bernie supervises each new arrival, ensuring every rescued friend feels properly welcomed before heading off to its next home.

Please Note: Bernie does not actually handle the toys. His role is strictly supervisory.

Kate (and Bernie) are always open to questions, comments, stories, and new connections. You can reach them through the Contact page.