Make your voice heard: Let brands and policymakers know recycling is important to you

As an individual, you have more power to bring about positive change than you might know. Whether you’re voting in an election or making active choices when it comes to what you buy and what you don’t, your actions can make a huge difference. 

At TerraCycle, we can recycle the ‘unrecyclable’ (items not typically accepted through kerbside recycling programmes) by working with brands, retailers, and others who fund the process of recycling these hard-to-recycle items. You can be part of this mission by participating in our recycling programmes – and you can play a key role by encouraging brands and manufacturers to get involved. 

Did you know that brands are not obligated to offer recycling or other end-of-life solutions for their products and packaging? Your feedback to brands is important, and letting them know that recycling solutions for the products you buy are important to you will go a long way to both launching and scaling these recycling solutions. 

Here are a few questions you can ask to let brands know recycling is important to the planet, and to you: 

1. Can you make your products and packaging kerbside recyclable?

Encourage your favourite brands to shift to kerbside recyclable products and packaging. 

Local recycling services typically accept items for recycling if they can make a profit on the recycled materials. If the cost of logistics (the collection, transport, handling and storage of rubbish) plus processing (the cleaning, shredding and material conversion of rubbish) outweighs the value of recycled materials, items won’t be accepted in kerbside recycling solutions.

Brands make it easier for their customers to recycle when they ensure products and packaging are kerbside recyclable, and communicate this with clear on-pack recycling labels. This can help minimise recycling contamination, and also help local council services recycle more efficiently.

2. Can you make products with recycled materials, or create reusable packaging?

Brands can close the loop further by incorporating recycled materials into their products and packaging. Fewer virgin materials need to be extracted from the Earth when brands and manufacturers reuse materials.

A reuse packaging model like Loop can help brands and manufacturers to enable refillable versions of their conventional single-use products and activate a circular reuse ecosystem.

3. Can you sponsor a TerraCycle recycling programme for hard-to-recycle rubbish?

Ask your favourite brands to sponsor a TerraCycle recycling programme. 

Brands can sponsor free recycling programmes through TerraCycle by covering the cost of collecting and processing rubbish. This makes it free for consumers to recycle through the programme. 

If brands are already sponsoring a programme with TerraCycle, sign up! This lets brands know customers are keen to recycle and can encourage them to expand their programme. 

Remember:

While the eco-friendly changes you make in your daily life are important, you can amplify your impact by encouraging your favourite companies or brands and your local and/or national policymakers to adopt initiatives and policies to reduce waste. For instance, you could ask your favourite brand to make their packaging recyclable or ask your local MP to vote against (or in favour) of a certain bill. It all starts with a letter. 

There are a few things to keep in mind when writing to changemakers and legislators – and namely local council. Be as specific and personal as possible. Provide examples of what you want them to do. Try including a personal story or experience about why this cause is important to you.

If you unsure as to where to start but would like to get involved, why not take inspiration from the below templates:

If you want to reach out to your local representatives but don’t know who they are, you can find your MPs here. 

Bringing about positive change is only possible if individuals like you speak up. Every action has impact, and all of us hold responsibility for protecting our planet. Keep doing your part and encourage others to do the same!