Message in a Bottle™ is the Recycling Association of Minnesota’s "away from home" recycling program for bottles and cans. It’s the only program of its kind in Minnesota and is currently available in the St. Cloud, Duluth, Canby, Clinton, Pine City/Hinckley, Waseca/Owatonna, Fairmont, Willmar, and Mankato areas, in addition to, the counties of McLeod, Kandiyohi, Steele, Carver, Wright, Ramsey and Hennepin. 

We offer this service free of charge to gas stations, car wash facilities and any other place that Minnesotans visit when they are away from home. It's hard to recycle when you are out and about in Minnesota. This program makes it easy!  Message in a Bottle™’s sister program, It’s in the Bag™, is managed by Minnesota Waste Wise. It’s in the Bag™ provides consumers the opportunity to recycle unwanted plastic bags at local retail locations such as grocery stores, and it gives businesses an option to recycle  their plastic shrink film. 

Materials collected through these programs are collected and sorted for recycling by individuals with developmental disabilities from vocational centers throughout the state. Not only do these programs enrich local communities and keep valuable recyclables out of landfills, they also provide rewarding, innovative employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities.  

If your organization would like to become a collection site for Message in a Bottle™ or It’s in the Bag™ fill out the form below and RAM staff will contact you on participation availability in your area.