TerraCycle: Recycling the unrecyclable

TerraCycle is a company specializing in finding recycling solutions for waste which is considered “non-recyclable” through traditional council recycling systems.

This includes a wide range of waste such as biscuits and snack wrappers, baby food pouches, crisps packets, water filters, toy packaging, and personal care and beauty packaging. Through recycling, we aim to eliminate the idea of waste.

Founded in New Jersey in 2001, today TerraCycle works with over one hundred major brands in twenty-one countries across the globe to collect used packaging and products that would otherwise be destined for landfills or incineration.

In Ireland, TerraCycle runs collection programmes for over 13 types of waste which can’t be accepted by local council-run recycling systems.

Currently, thousands of individuals and organisations across Ireland have signed up to TerraCycle, and to date have diverted thousands more pieces of packaging waste from landfill.

How does TerraCycle Recycle the “Unrecyclable?”

We offer a unique free solution for recycling waste which is considered “non-recyclable” through traditional methods. In order to do this, we partner with some of the biggest brands in the world to find responsible solutions for their packaging waste.

These brands fund National Recycling Programmes, covering the cost of transporting and processing the waste, as well as a charitable donation to the charities of each collector’s choice.

Throughout Ireland, schools, organisations, and individuals have signed up to one or several of our free recycling programmes and set up public access drop-off locations across the country.

Members of the public can find their nearest drop off location by heading to the TerraCycle Ireland website (https://www.terracycle.com/en-IE/brigades), finding the waste stream they would like to recycle, and then accessing the interactive map of drop-off locations.

If there is no location nearby, they can set up their own location by creating an account on our website, heading to the dedicated programme page and signing up as a public or private collector.

Collectors who have signed up for one or more of the free recycling programmes are able to download free shipping labels that they can use to post their waste to TerraCycle.

For each shipment of waste, they send to TerraCycle, collectors will earn TerraCycle points which they can redeem as a cash donation to the charity, non-profit, or school of their choice.

The recycling processes

In order to recycle this waste, TerraCycle partners with several third-party processors who turn the waste into a reusable raw material.

The waste we send for recycling is shredded, washed, and turned into an agglomerate or pellets. These pellets can then be melted down and moulded by manufacturers into new products such as outdoor furniture, planters, and even playgrounds for schools.

A responsible and united approach

This ecological initiative reduces the need for new virgin plastics to be produced and at the same time prevents waste from ending up in landfill or incineration, or worse, in our rivers and oceans.

In addition to the obvious ecological benefits, TerraCycle programmes also offer charitable rewards for collectors, and to date thousands of euros have been raised for schools, charities, and non-profit organisations across Ireland.

More information on TerraCycle: https://www.terracycle.com/en-IE

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