# This episode is trash

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-01-19
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash

## Summary

Matt Rogers, co-founder of Nest and CEO of Mill, explains how his new company tackles food waste by dehydrating scraps in a kitchen bin and returning them to farms via mail. Rogers argues that anaerobic decomposition in landfills generates potent methane, making diversion critical for climate goals. Mill’s system shrinks waste volume, eliminates odors, and allows consumers to save on municipal trash fees while keeping food in the circular economy. The company is launching nationwide in the US, targeting both direct-to-consumer adoption and municipal partnerships to achieve zero-waste goals.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=2) Introduction: Matt Rogers and Mill
- [3:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=211) The Scale and Source of Food Waste
- [5:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=319) Landfills, Methane, and Emissions
- [8:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=528) Composting vs. Landfill and Animal Feed
- [12:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=722) Consumer Awareness and Behavior Change
- [18:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=1112) Mill’s Bin Design and Dehydration Process
- [21:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=1305) Logistics: Using the Mail System
- [24:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=1488) Go-to-Market Strategy and City Partnerships
- [29:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash#t=1762) Pricing, Unit Economics, and Savings

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mill (product)
- Nest (company)
- Tesla Model 3 (product)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- ReFED (company)
- Canary (company)
- Climavores (company)
- EPA (company)
- Apple (company)
- Uber (company)
- Lyft (company)
- USPS (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Reclaiming food waste with Jasmine Crowe-Houston of Goodr (2022)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-09-14-reclaiming-food-waste-with-jasmine-crowe-houston-of-goodr-2022) (How I Built This)
- [Using Methane-Eating Bacteria to Combat Climate Change: A Discussion with Josh Silverman, CEO at Windfall Bio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-07-using-methane-eating-bacteria-to-combat-climate-change-a-discussion-with-josh-si) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Intelligent Dumpsters and Sustainable Waste Disposal with Ben Chehebar, VP of Hardware at RoadRunner Recycling, and Jason Gates, Senior VP of Strategy at RoadRunner Recycling](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-30-intelligent-dumpsters-and-sustainable-waste-disposal-with-ben-chehebar-vp-of-har) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Making garbage useful with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-08-17-making-garbage-useful-with-tom-szaky-of-terracycle) (How I Built This)
- [186 - Landfill degradable water bottles?? Kahle Wightman from Serum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-29-186-landfill-degradable-water-bottles-kahle-wightman-from-serum) (People of Packaging)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-19-this-episode-is-trash. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.