TerraCycle Schools - Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • How do I sign up for my school?
    • Create a TerraCycle account here and fill out all required fields with the school’s information. Please sign up as one of the following organization types: public elementary school, private elementary school, public middle school, private middle school, public high school, or private high school.
  • How do I get TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points?
    • For each valid shipment you send in through our free recycling programs, you will earn TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points. These points can be redeemed as a donation to your school. Join as many free recycling programs as you’d like to earn more points!
  • What does valid shipment mean?
    • To receive reward points, you must meet the minimum shipment requirements for the program. Each free recycling program has different requirements, which can be found under “Earn Recycling Rewards” on the program’s web page. For example, some programs may require at least one pound of trash to reward you with 100 points.
    • You can only ship in waste from the accepted waste stream for each program.
  • Can I ship all of my trash together?
    • No, please send separate shipments using labels that are program-specific. This is required to ensure that waste streams are not contaminated in the sorting process, and your shipments are tracked correctly.
  • How do I know if I'm ready to ship in a box?
    • We recommend waiting to ship until you can fill a box with the accepted waste stream, as heavier, less frequent shipments help minimize our carbon footprint. 
    • Please note that some programs have a minimum shipment weight meaning that all shipments for that program must weigh a certain amount in order to earn TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points! We’ve created this system to reinforce our commitment to the planet and reward you for protecting it for future generations.
  • Why are the free recycling programs so specific?
    • Our free recycling programs are funded by brands and retailers. They specify which type of waste is accepted by their programs, meaning that some programs only accept one brand’s waste while others accept all brands.
  • Can I get points if I use a Zero Waste Box™ to collect trash?
    • No, points are only awarded through our free recycling programs.
  • How much money can I get for my TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points?
    • Points can be redeemed for a donation of $0.01 per point. Please note that you must redeem a minimum of 2,500 TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points (or $25).
  • How do I set my school up to receive donations?
    • After you create an account for your school, check for your school in our charity database; if you're new to fundraising with TerraCycle, add your school here. If your request is approved, your school’s information will be in the system when you’re ready to redeem your points.
  • How do I redeem my TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points?
    • Search for your school in our database, select your school, and click “Redeem” to donate your reward points.
  • When will my school receive the donation?
    • We have two payment periods per year. If you redeem by the end of April, your school will be paid via check in June. If you redeem by the end of October, your school will be paid in January.
  • Is there a limit to how much I can earn?
    • There is no limit to how much you can earn! You can join as many programs and recycle as much hard-to-recycle trash as you want, all for free. We do ask that you adhere to the guidelines of each program and ship compliantly to ensure that we can keep providing our solutions to as many people and schools as possible. 
  • I’m a parenthow can I donate my TerraCycle Recycling Rewards points to our school?
    • Search for your school in our database, select your school, and click “Redeem” to donate your reward points.
  • How can I promote this as a fundraiser at my school?
    • Check out all of our free resources for getting parents, staff, and students involved! To request support for sharing your story with the media, please fill out this form.

 

If you have any other questions, please visit our Help Center or reach out to our Customer Care team at customercare@terracycle.com