Don’t toss that butt!

TerraCycle, of Trenton, N.J., was founded in 2001 by its CEO Tom Szaky and began by selling liquid fertilizer made from worm waste products in reused containers. The company quickly grew into a business that specializes in making consumer products from pre- and post-consumer waste in a process known as “upcycling.” For products that cannot be reused or turned into another product, the company recycles the waste and makes something completely new out of it. In addition to cigarette butts, TerraCycle also recycles used gum and diapers.