The TerraCycle Difference

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International leader in recycling the hard-to-recycle since 2003

Proven first-of-their-kind recycling and reuse solutions

Advanced third-party accreditation

World-class experts

For over 20 years, we’ve been an international leader in sustainability solutions. We’ve developed first-of-their kind solutions to recycle the unrecyclable: waste streams that aren’t typically curbside recyclable.

Eliminating the Idea of Waste® for over 20 years

National solutions in 20+ countries

Hundreds of never-before-seen recycling solutions

40,000+ clients globally

Hundreds of millions of recyclers

Our scientists

TerraCycle’s in-house scientists and material application specialists make up our R&D organization. They analyze materials to determine the right way to recycle them.

Discover our recycling process

Items are cleaned and separated by material type, and recycled into raw formats used to make new products.

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How we recycle the unrecyclable

Waste streams vary by region.

Flexible plastic packaging

Materials are shredded and then cleaned to remove residual product or other contaminants. Clean plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Beauty waste

Materials are shredded and washed. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Glass is removed and used in aggregate-based products. Plastics are sorted by material type and then mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Medicine blister packaging

Materials are shredded and then cleaned to remove residual product or other contaminants. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Clean plastics are sorted by material type and then mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Coffee capsules

Capsules are shredded and screened. The coffee grounds are composted, and the remaining materials are cleaned. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. The clean plastics are sorted by material and mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Toys

All materials are size-reduced through shredding. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Wood materials are shredded and mixed with other wood to make recycled wood blends. Electronics are recycled as e-waste. Plastics are cleaned, sorted, and mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends. Sorted papers are pulped and used for secondary corrugated and paper manufacturing applications.

Disposable razors

All materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Clean plastics are sorted by material type and then mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Cigarette butts

The butts are shredded and cleaned to remove contaminants. Then they are separated into tobacco, paper, and cellulose acetate filters. Tobacco and paper are dried and mixed with other organic materials to create compost. The filters are dried and turned into a powder that’s used to make plastic products.

Clothing & other textiles

Textiles are separated by fabric type, then shredded, and recycled into raw material. Natural fiber textiles like cotton are turned into "shoddy," or insulation. Synthetic and mixed fiber textiles are used as filler for products such as mattresses, pet bedding, and sports equipment. Metal is mechanically separated and is sent for metal smelting and can be used to produce a variety of metal products.

Food & drink pouches

Materials are shredded and then cleaned to remove residual product or other contaminants. Clean plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Contact lenses and packaging

Water filters

Materials are size reduced, and the carbon filter media is sorted. Carbon is then reused as a colorant, for example. Shredded plastics are cleaned to remove residual carbon or other contaminants. Clean, sorted plastics are then mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Milk, juice & food cartons

Materials are shredded, pulped, and screened to remove plastics. Paper pulp is used for secondary corrugated and paper manufacturing applications. Screened plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Office supplies & writing instruments

All materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Plastics are cleaned, sorted, and mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends. Sorted papers are pulped and used for secondary corrugated and paper manufacturing applications.

PPE (personal protective equipment)

If necessary, waste is first quarantined. Then, all materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Plastics are cleaned, sorted, and mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Oral care packaging

Pet food packaging

Materials are shredded and then cleaned to remove residual product or other contaminants. Clean, sorted plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends. Sorted papers are pulped and used for secondary corrugated and paper manufacturing applications.

Home care products & packaging

All materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Clean, sorted plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends. Sorted papers are pulped and used for secondary corrugated and paper manufacturing applications.

Plastic bottle caps

Materials are shredded and then cleaned to remove residual product or other contaminants. Clean plastics are sorted by material type and then mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Styrofoam™

Materials are heated to remove inert gases. Then they are shredded and cleaned to remove residual product or other contaminants. The material is mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Corks

Natural corks are separated by density through vibratory screening and used in sheeting for floor and mat applications. Synthetic corks are size-reduced and mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Eyewear

Materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Plastics are sorted by material type and then mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Wires & cords

All materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Clean, sorted plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Ink & toner cartridges

When possible, cartridges are cleaned and refilled. Otherwise, they’re recycled. When recycled, the cartridges are shredded and cleaned. Clean, sorted plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

E-waste

All materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Clean, sorted plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.

Audited. Accredited. Accountable.

TerraCycle’s mission is Eliminating the Idea of Waste® and we guarantee we recycle all the accepted waste sent to us. We strictly control the movement of materials through each part of the recycling process so we can track and confirm where materials were sent and for what purpose. Bureau Veritas—a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification services— annually audits our collection and recycling supply chains, as do many of our partners.

We hold our vendors—and ourselves—to strict standards

Internal auditing

We strictly control the movement of materials through each part of the recycling process so we can track and confirm where materials were sent and for what purpose.

External auditing

We’ve gained accreditation to the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) through an audit by Bureau Veritas—a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification services.

Compliance

We’ve implemented the highest of safety standards throughout our entire recycling process, allowing us to manage hazardous materials, including aerosols.

We’ve recycled 8,316,308,274 items… and counting

Better for the planet

We take environmental responsibility seriously. Our LCA department conducts comprehensive life cycle assessments (LCAs) that prove our solutions benefit our planet. These LCAs are third-party verified and show that TerraCycle recycling models outperform municipal waste management options by an average of 45 percent.