TerraCycle: Eliminating the Idea of Waste

Published Saturday, 18th August, 2012 | By Susan AKA Peacefull

When recycling becomes a means to reuse this is a step in the right direction. Psychologically people are seeing resources as reuseable rather than one off ground fill. The mentality of one use and throw away is what is sinking the planet. Much of the products are wants not needs and built in obscelence ensures that products are made to break so that more demand is generated. This may boost profits but it diminishes the earths reproductive capacity. It comes from a mentality of infinite growth, this is a significant flaw in economic thinking. Therefore, eliminating waste is a starting point in taking responsibility for our planet. Not unlike the idea of cleaning up your room or backyard. It is all about responsibility. We have the ability to respond!

http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/about-us.html

TerraCycle’s purpose is to eliminate the idea of waste. We do this by creating national recycling systems for previously non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle waste. Anyone can sign up for these programs, called the Brigades, and start sending us waste.

TerraCycle then converts the collected waste into a wide variety of products and materials. With more than 20 million people collecting waste in over 20 countries TerraCycle has diverted billions of units of waste and used them to create over 1,500 different products available at major retailers ranging from Walmart to Whole Foods Market.

Our goal is to eliminate the idea of waste by creating collection and solution systems for anything that today must be sent to a landfill.

Founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky, then a 20-year-old Princeton University freshman, TerraCycle began by producing organic fertilizer, packaging liquid worm poop in used soda bottles. Since then TerraCycle has grown into one of the fastest-growing green companies in the world.

We invite you to experience our culture by exploring the links below:

Team
Offices
Graffiti

And we invite you to experience our philosophy on waste and manufacturing by clicking the links below:

Upcycling
Recycling
Manufacturing

How TerraCycle Works

TerraCycle’s goal is to help eliminate the idea of waste. We do this by creating collection and solution programs for all kinds of typically non-recyclable waste. In essence turning the non-recyclable recyclable. We do this by creating waste collection programs, “brigades,” and turning the collected waste into new products, ranging from recycled park benches to upcycled backpacks. TerraCycle operates all around the world so please check out if we are available in your country.

To start collecting please sign up and join a brigade. There are brigades for many different waste streams ranging from candy wrappers to pens. While some brigades have a cost many are free, where we pay the shipping and for every unit of waste you send to us and at least $0.02 to a charity or school of your choice. If you have already signed up, or are interested in signing up, you can download our free Collection Kit to get started.

Diagram of the TerraCycle signup process

TerraCycle upcycles and recycles traditionally non-recycable waste (including drink pouches, chip bags, tooth brushes and many more) into a large variety of consumer products. These products keep waste out of our landfills and contribute to a cleaner world. TerraCycle products are available at a wide range of major retailers from Wal*Mart to Target as well as online.