TerraCycle: One Brand's Trash, Another Brand's Business

“Send us your trash – we’ll make it into cool products.” That's the simple premise and promise aof New Jersey-based startup TerraCycle, a green recycler founded by two former Princeton University classmates who dreamed up the idea in 2001 for a business plan contest.

Now full-time "eco-capitalists," they're making good business from trash by partnering with brands to create recycling campaigns for their products, and a halo effect for their affiliates.

Instead of used packaging clogging up landfills, they encourage organizations such as schools (at no cost) to send them, for example, used Capri Sun juice packets (above) so they can turn them into products such as bags and backpacks.Continue reading...