The rate of global waste we are seeing today requires innovative solutions across the globe. TerraCycle is one company on a mission to end plastic pollution and build a circular economy.
Who Is TerraCycle?
TerraCycle is a manufacturer of waste disposal products and an industrial waste management company. The company was founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky during his freshman year at Princeton University when he noticed that there was an environmental problem with non-biodegradable plastic waste.
He wanted to help eliminate waste and began by converting leftover cafeteria food waste into high-quality fertilizer. Szaky turned this waste into an opportunity to create TerraCycle as a circular business model for the new green economy.
TerraCycle is a global leader in the recycling industry, specializing in turning waste materials into useful products. They specialize in accepting waste items that few other recycling companies are willing or capable of receiving and processing. Waste includes toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, gum, wrappers, cigarette butts, cosmetic product packaging, and more.
Headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey, the company operates in over 21 countries, including Spain, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. TerraCycle's innovative strategy continues to grow and find new means to eliminate waste. They have been in business for over 20 years and continue to make strides by moving from a linear economy to a circular one.
What Do They Do?
At TerraCycle, they collect the hard-to-recycle waste they receive from businesses and consumers. The company works with brands, retailers, and other stakeholders who fund the recycling process.
In addition, the company offers free recycling programs as well as paid recycling solutions. The company also has drop-off points throughout the nation where consumers can collect their waste and drop them off for shipping. Registration is required to take part.
The process begins with a regulatory review by assessing the material first. They then clean the waste, sort, and aggregate the waste materials based on composition, divide them into appropriate categories, and transfer them to a processing plant where they will be reduced in size, melted, and converted into pellets. The pellets, now converted into raw material, are sold to manufacturing companies to produce products like park benches, plastic shipping, watering cans, outdoor furniture, and other products.
The company works with major brands and corporations like L'Oréal, PepsiCo, and most recently, Kroger, collecting and recycling plastic and then repurposing it into new products. TerraCycle also offers consumers a chance to recycle their own waste in their household through national recycling programs offered on their webpage. The company also features recycling rewards programs consumers can earn points towards donations to a school or charity of their choice.
TerraCycle is a unique recycling program because it collects and recycles the materials from products that would otherwise be thrown away. They partner with corporations and companies to collect these items and then process them into new products. This circular model is what makes the company stand out because they are determined to create a totally reusable and recyclable market.
TerraCycle has been recognized for social entrepreneurship and sustainable business. The company has received numerous awards for its efforts in creating a sustainable environment, such as the Gold Seal Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
TerraCycle is a company that uses the power of recycling to create an environmental solution. Their circular business model, free recycling programs, and rewards program make them incredibly successful at reducing waste in an innovative way. Their Zero Waste Recycling Program ensures that any waste delivered through that program will be utilized and repurposed, something no other recycling company is doing.
They also rely on consumers to take part-ownership in the process. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle has involved 202 million consumers, helping to collect waste and spread awareness about sustainability. TerraCycle, with the help of consumers, has raised more than 44 million dollars for charities around the world. They are making a difference globally.
What Is Their Mission?
The company's mission is to "eliminate the idea of waste" by creating a world where all products and complex trash are reused and recycled.
According to the World Bank, global waste is expected to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050. This is why companies like TerraCycle are looking for ways to reduce the problem. The global waste crisis has been an area of great concern as waste sits in landfills and pollutes the planet. TerraCycle has teamed up with consumers, government, and corporations to help eliminate some of that waste and develop waste mitigation solutions.
The company has helped divert more than 2 million pounds of waste from landfills, including 947,460 pounds of waste from waterways. TerraCycle continues to find new innovative ways and strategies for a better waste future on Earth.
Key Takeaways
Global waste is expected to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050.
TerraCycle recycles waste many other recycling companies refuse to.
TerraCycle operates in 21 countries across the globe to reduce global waste.
TerraCycle is a manufacturer of waste disposal products and an industrial waste management company.
The rate of global waste we are seeing today requires innovative solutions across the globe.
TerraCycle is one company on a mission to end plastic pollution and build a circular economy.
The rate of global waste we are seeing today requires innovative solutions across the globe. TerraCycle is one company on a mission to end plastic pollution and build a circular economy.
Who Is TerraCycle?
TerraCycle is a manufacturer of waste disposal products and an industrial waste management company. The company was founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky during his freshman year at Princeton University when he noticed that there was an environmental problem with non-biodegradable plastic waste.
He wanted to help eliminate waste and began by converting leftover cafeteria food waste into high-quality fertilizer. Szaky turned this waste into an opportunity to create TerraCycle as a circular business model for the new green economy.
TerraCycle is a global leader in the recycling industry, specializing in turning waste materials into useful products. They specialize in accepting waste items that few other recycling companies are willing or capable of receiving and processing. Waste includes toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, gum, wrappers, cigarette butts, cosmetic product packaging, and more.
Headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey, the company operates in over 21 countries, including Spain, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. TerraCycle's innovative strategy continues to grow and find new means to eliminate waste. They have been in business for over 20 years and continue to make strides by moving from a linear economy to a circular one.
What Do They Do?
At TerraCycle, they collect the hard-to-recycle waste they receive from businesses and consumers. The company works with brands, retailers, and other stakeholders who fund the recycling process.
In addition, the company offers free recycling programs as well as paid recycling solutions. The company also has drop-off points throughout the nation where consumers can collect their waste and drop them off for shipping. Registration is required to take part.
The process begins with a regulatory review by assessing the material first. They then clean the waste, sort, and aggregate the waste materials based on composition, divide them into appropriate categories, and transfer them to a processing plant where they will be reduced in size, melted, and converted into pellets. The pellets, now converted into raw material, are sold to manufacturing companies to produce products like park benches, plastic shipping, watering cans, outdoor furniture, and other products.
The company works with major brands and corporations like L'Oréal, PepsiCo, and most recently, Kroger, collecting and recycling plastic and then repurposing it into new products. TerraCycle also offers consumers a chance to recycle their own waste in their household through national recycling programs offered on their webpage. The company also features recycling rewards programs consumers can earn points towards donations to a school or charity of their choice.
At TerraCycle, they collect the hard-to-recycle waste they receive from businesses and consumers.
What Makes TerraCycle Unique?
TerraCycle is a unique recycling program because it collects and recycles the materials from products that would otherwise be thrown away. They partner with corporations and companies to collect these items and then process them into new products. This circular model is what makes the company stand out because they are determined to create a totally reusable and recyclable market.
TerraCycle has been recognized for social entrepreneurship and sustainable business. The company has received numerous awards for its efforts in creating a sustainable environment, such as the Gold Seal Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
TerraCycle is a company that uses the power of recycling to create an environmental solution. Their circular business model, free recycling programs, and rewards program make them incredibly successful at reducing waste in an innovative way. Their Zero Waste Recycling Program ensures that any waste delivered through that program will be utilized and repurposed, something no other recycling company is doing.
They also rely on consumers to take part-ownership in the process. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle has involved 202 million consumers, helping to collect waste and spread awareness about sustainability. TerraCycle, with the help of consumers, has raised more than 44 million dollars for charities around the world. They are making a difference globally.
What Is Their Mission?
The company's mission is to "eliminate the idea of waste" by creating a world where all products and complex trash are reused and recycled.
According to the World Bank, global waste is expected to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050. This is why companies like TerraCycle are looking for ways to reduce the problem. The global waste crisis has been an area of great concern as waste sits in landfills and pollutes the planet. TerraCycle has teamed up with consumers, government, and corporations to help eliminate some of that waste and develop waste mitigation solutions.
The company has helped divert more than 2 million pounds of waste from landfills, including 947,460 pounds of waste from waterways. TerraCycle continues to find new innovative ways and strategies for a better waste future on Earth.
Key Takeaways
Global waste is expected to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050.
TerraCycle recycles waste many other recycling companies refuse to.
TerraCycle operates in 21 countries across the globe to reduce global waste.