How TerraCycle is going above and beyond your standard paper recycling.

For the past 20+ years, recycling has been available in most municipalities in Canada. It would appear that in that time, recycling would be a straight forward business where all recyclable materials are being recycled.  Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Recycling of materials varies from municipality to municipality and from region to region. Large cities and metropolitans tend to have a better recycling program as oppose to suburban or rural areas. In many rural areas all recycling materials need to be dropped off at a local recycling drop-off stations. Needless to say, this greatly reduces the success of recycling. Other factors influencing recycling success rates are understanding of what materials are acceptable, how to prepare and sort items and the most importantly, having access to affordable recycling programs. Many waste management companies and smaller recyclers offer various programs in urban and suburban areas. Yet much of the waste makes it into our streets, forests and waterways.  The oceans are littered with cigarette butts, plastic bottles, plastic bags and other plastic items that are recyclable, but not recycled. According to Statistics Canada, in 2010 only 32% of our waste was recycled. To fill the gap in our recycling system,  Terracycle has launched its new program ZeroWaste boxes. They offer recycling options for hard-to-recycle materials such as plastic packaging, styrofoam products, household and cleaning items, beauty products, pet food bags, lunch room waste and much more. The boxes are an affordable solution for businesses that may not have large quantities of waste, yet want to recycle as much as possible. At NewSpring Energy, we have been using ZeroWaste boxes for plastic packaging since the summer. It has been astonishing how much plastic we have collected in those few months. Plastic wraps, styrofoam packaging, shrink wrap, food packaging, plastic bags, styrofoam containers, milk bags and more. It showed us just how difficult it is to avoid all that plastic. With TerraCycle ZeroWaste box program,  we have diverted from landfill 3.8 ft3 of plastic packaging waste to day. We are committed to reducing waste and recycle as much as possible.

Topics like natural resource depletion, climate change, landfill waste, and water contamination are often presented with a side of "fire and brimstone," causing them to seem negative and inaccessible. However, a touch of mindfulness can make sustainable living much more accessible. Establishing a practice of mindfulness, the process of being more present and aware of your thinking and emotions, is one of the best things you can do for the planet (and your own well-being). Here's why making an effort to tune in and connect with your day-to-day experiences can help you become a more effective steward of the environment.

1. Increased productivity can reduce your carbon footprint.

In the workplace, in the classroom, and at home, we are expected to wear many hats and constantly "do more." Mindfulness helps us gain clarity on what's actually important and what we have the ability to do, resulting in increased productivity and a better use of time and resources. This may translate to a reduction in carbon emissions from less time spent driving, less food waste due to better budgeting, and more free time to learn about sustainable best practices for the home.

2. Thoughtful decision making may lead to more sustainable purchasing habits.

Our culture of convenience trains us to look for things outside of ourselves (i.e., products and services) to solve problems. In the food industry, for example, pre-chopped produce, meal delivery services, and healthy snack subscriptions serve as more convenient ways to obtain quality foods. However, many of these items also come paired with excessive packaging and high carbon emissions from transportation. Remaining conscious of what's happening inside your head while shopping is key to making a personal connection to your purchases, spending better, and supporting ethical manufacturers.

3. Decluttering your mind can help you find solutions for physical clutter.

Mindfulness practices often require us to create a routine around letting go. By doing away with what no longer serves you, you part ways with the material possessions that make you feel blocked or stuck. However, it's important to remember that while they may no longer be useful to you, all items have some sort of intrinsic value. Instead of simply throwing your discarded items in the trash, dispose of them in a more ethical, sustainable manner. Try bringing them to a thrift store, giving them to friends or relatives, or donating them to Goodwill. For those items that are difficult to reuse or recycle, my company, TerraCycle, offers a customizable Zero Waste Box that feeds back raw materials into the value system.

4. Taking in your surroundings creates a greater investment in the environment.

Mindfulness is a heightened way of observing oneself and one's surroundings. Part of that is paying attention to your relationship with your environment and the effect each party has on the others. So stop and smell the roses—literally. Slowing down to take stock of what you have as an individual and as a member of the global community will help you understand the great effects your day-to-day actions (and inactions) can have on the environment. This understanding translates to a moral obligation to protect the earth and move through the world fulfilling your highest potential.

This year was one of historic significance. The global community had a front-row seat to developments on the world-stage of international politics, the movements of which have implications for this coming year and all those to follow. More connected by technology than ever, the world’s citizens engaged in discussions of pressing issues like human rights and environmental sustainability, speaking to an increased willingness to convert values into action.   At TerraCycle, 2016 notched a decade and a half of dedication to the circular economy, corporate social responsibility and the renewal of the world’s finite resources.  Through free recycling programs, custom recycling solutions and partnerships with some of the world’s largest companies, TerraCycle so far has engaged more than 60 million people to recycle in 23 countries, diverting nearly 4 billion units of difficult-to-recycle waste from landfills and incinerators and raising $15 million for charity.   Milestones this year include the launch of new programs that marked the first time TerraCycle has recycled in their respective categories. Henkel, a leading global manufacturer of industrial adhesives, including the LOCTITE® brand, became the first company to offer a recycling solution for anaerobic adhesive packaging. The main challenge with recycling the polyethylene [PE] plastic bottles and the reason they are not accepted by the conventional waste management infrastructure is due to the residual adhesive. Learning about the adhesives and how they cure allowed us to develop a solution and recycle this category of material for the first time.   The year also saw us finalize a partnership with SUEZ, one of the largest waste management companies in the world. Through the deal, SUEZ can bring TerraCycle’s consumer-facing programs to its customers in France, the UK, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden, and we gain access to perhaps the world’s largest sales force dedicated to the circular economy.   Recyclability is among the top purchase drivers for a range of consumer products, and finding new ways to engage consumers and end-users on our programs adds value for current and potential partners. Instrument string manufacturer D’Addario this year launched their Recycle and Restring events, which bring recycling into local music stores across the country, showing communities what sustainability could do for them. Open Farm’s #RecycleWithOpenFarm contest and Tom’s of Maine’s Green Your School Fund (a nationwide school science competition on which I had the pleasure of judging) were social media activations that demonstrated the power of digital eco-activism and its latent ability to bring people together over sustainability and CSR.   Unprecedented sales in our Zero Waste Box division showed that consumers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for sustainable goods and services, include those which solve for waste. Consumers enjoy the convenience and innovation of this turn-key recycling solution, and some companies (like paper shredders and waste management entities) have begun using the platform to expand their portfolio of services, diversifying their offerings and scaling for growth by piggy-backing on their own route logistics.   As it stands, waste is a negative value commodity: people pay to have it taken away. TerraCycle is in the business of solving for waste by not only capturing this refuse, but bringing value to it so that people will pay for products made out of recycled materials. This year called for a massive expansion of our international sales force to answer a growing demand for circular solutions at all levels of consumption, making for our most profitable yet. The challenge in 2017 will be to continue nurturing this market to ease the strain on the Earth’s resources and move us towards a more sustainable, circular global economy. 

Holiday travel may take a toll on your old suitcases, but don’t give up on them yet. With some creativity, they can still be useful.   Dear Recyclebank: What is the best way to dispose of, or repurpose, broken luggage? –Rachel G. Dear Rachel: Years of travelling can take a toll on your suitcases, no matter how well constructed they are. This wear and tear can become especially noticeable around the holidays — after numerous trips to see loved ones, you just may find yourself with an unusable bag that’s beyond repair. When your luggage is way past its expiration date and can’t be used at home anymore, it’s time to consider your recycling options. While you can’t throw a giant piece of luggage in your curbside recycling bin as-is, suitcases and other bags often contain useful material that can be recycled. Between fabric, metal zippers, plastic handles, and rubber wheels, different components can be given new life if properly separated. If you feel comfortable disassembling the separate parts, feel free to separate the bag into more easily recyclable bits. This route will take some research, though, as you’ll need to confirm that all the materials you salvage are accepted by your local facility, and in that form. If you’re not comfortable acting as a luggage surgeon, you may be able to recycle your suitcase without taking it apart first. Many cities have special curbside recycling pickup for large items, whether it’s a designated day set by the city or a date set by you, by contacting the handler directly. If this is an option in your area, it’s worth investigating. Another convenient way to send luggage in for recycling is to order the appropriate Zero Waste Box from TerraCycle. However, as this is a relatively expensive option, you may want to work with your friends and family to gather all of your old bags and fund a box purchase together. Of course, if you're luggage isn't unusable, consider donating it. Beyond Goodwill, you may want to look into donating to shelters, or check out Suitcases For Kids, which helps get suitcases to foster children, who may move often. And as you plan your travel, keep your eyes peeled — travel agencies sometimes run luggage drives, too.

Holiday preparations often bring to mind shopping, wrapping gifts and parties against a backdrop of twinkling lights and whimsical decorations. Understandably, the holidays are also a time that we experience a degree of stress, which may cause us to prioritize convenience over eco-consciousness. Demands on our time and resources put pressure on us year round, so when the Fall and Winter months creep up, thinking about the environment and ways to scale back on potentially wasteful holiday plans can be difficult. With less than a week left before the holiday, keeping it green may seem like a daunting task. But not only can you get it all done without sacrificing your traditions, setting intentions can help you balance out the last-minute holiday frenzy.

Make a list and set a time limit

Whether you are heading out to the supermarket, to the shopping mall or to the local brick-and-mortar shop, the longer you stay in there, the more likely you are to buy things you don’t need. Planning is everything. Writing out a list and crafting up a game plan for your shopping route may seem like a waste when it’s crunch-time. But this exercise in mindfulness will give you clarity, resulting in increased productivity and a better use of that time.

Bring your own bag to the store

Think about the last time you went holiday shopping: remember all the bags you brought home? The thicker, sturdier shopping bags you get from clothing and household appliance retailer can be great for reuse (i.e. toting around all those holiday gifts!), but once they’ve outlived their purpose, this type of plastic often ends up in landfills. Try to bring your own canvas or nylon tote bag to toss your purchases in, and if you do end up collecting a few shopping bags, recycle them.

Try your hand at some DIY projects

In these final hours, getting some time for yourself may seem impossible. Keep your head on straight with some of TerraCycle’s holiday DIYs, which include some pretty decorations and bows that will “Wow” guests and the recipients of your thoughtful gifts. Find more options for homemade holiday gifts in our list here.

Buy gifts for use, not for the “big reveal”

Speaking of gifts, one of the most common qualifiers for not being “done” with holiday preparations is that you have not finished getting your gifts in order for friends, family and other loved ones. While you scurry to cross the last names of your list, consider these findings from a recent review of research on the psychology of giving and receiving gifts: one of the biggest mistakes gift givers make is focusing too much on the moment when the recipient will open the gift, instead of how they will use it in real life.

Keep food and alcohol more eco-friendly

Try to opt for local farms, artisan producers, wineries and breweries when planning meals and fixings, as this supports small business and sustainable practices and scales back on transportation and shipping costs. Try to stay away from convenience foods that come with excess packaging. And this may seem obvious, but the more you cook and prepare your own foods (around the holidays and year-round), the better it is for the environment. Connecting with your food in this way gives you a more accurate idea of what you actually need in regards to entertaining and/or household meal-planning. This cuts down on food waste, which goes beyond wasting money and food that could feed others; food waste in the landfill will release methane, a greenhouse gas, into the air during decomposition. Give the gift of healthy foods for those on your list that love to eat! 

Wrap gifts sustainably

As mentioned in a previous blog, if every American family wrapped just 3 presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. Wrapping gifts with stuff you already have is a challenge of creativity and resourcefulness, and can present some surprising opportunities for recycling and reuse. For example, wrap and tie a scarf that’s part of your gift around a smaller item to make one gift out of two.

Prepare end-of-holiday solutions ahead of time

One of the hardest parts of the holiday is when it’s over: cleaning up, putting away, boxing things and wrapping leftovers. Make plans for each aspect of your holiday celebrations so that you know exactly how to wrap gifts in a sustainable way, instead of going the route of convenience with linear solutions. Unwrapping presents will often result in a flurry of bows, ribbon, wrapping paper, gift bags and tissue paper. Open carefully and save what you can to keep these items for next year. Note that many municipal programs do accept wrapping paper for recycling along with regular paper, with the exception of foil wrapping paper or paper with any metallic pieces or flecks. For things you can no longer use or recycle through your curbside collections, TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Bags boast an assortment of custom waste solutions for the home and office, including the Kitchen Separation Bag, which allows you to recycle things like party supplies, dining disposables (if you happened to use them) and more.

Every year, more than 10 billion coffee pods wind up in North American landfills — enough, in fact, to circle the globe more than 10 times over.   That’s due, in large part, to the fact that while Keurig, Tassimo and other brands of single-cup coffee are becoming increasingly popular, most municipal and private recycling systems do not yet recycle the pods they come in — it’s simply too expensive a process to separate the compostable coffee grounds from their recyclable plastic containers.   From an environmental perspective that presents two problems, according to Eugene Ace, cofounder of a unique Toronto startup that’s come up with a solution to the coffee pod dilemma.   “Not only do discarded coffee pods see landfills clogged with plastic, but within the landfill, the coffee grounds trapped inside the pods are not exposed to air, so they end up producing methane — a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide,” said Ace, who cofounded GoJava, a GTA coffee delivery company that recycles its clients’ used coffee pods for free, with Evan Birrman in July 2015.   By partnering with TerraCycle Canada, a Fergus, Ont.-based specialty recycling company, Ace and Birrman have so far been able to divert more than 220,000 of the pods — that’s nearly five tons of coffee grounds and plastic — from local landfills in their first 16 months in business.   “We’re just at the very beginning of what we’re trying to do, but we’re really trying to find a mass-market way to collect these used pods and recycle them,” Ace said, noting that company’s current slate of customers includes more than 200 homes and 100 offices in Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham and Thornhill.   How GoJava works is this: customers simply place their coffee order for home or office at GoJava.ca, where Ace said they can find a full range of Keurig and Tassimo brands and ancillary products — often at better prices than the grocery store.   All orders of $40 or more are eligible for free next-day delivery courtesy of GoJava’s carbon-neutral delivery van, he added.   Upon delivery, first-time customers receive a special collection bin for their discarded coffee pods along with their coffee order, while repeat clients have their used pods picked up by GoJava for recycling at the same time their newest order is delivered.   “What we’ve tried to create here is a really simple-to-understand and easy-to-use service,” said Ace, a Davisville area resident. “We provide a good variety of products for a good value — including fast delivery and free recycling.”   Once Ace, Birrman and their two employees have transported their clients’ used coffee cartridges back to GoJava’s Scarborough warehouse, the pods are then sorted and aggregated into pallets and shipped off to Terracycle in Fergus.   There, the coffee grounds separated to be either composted or used as fertilizer, while the coffee pods are ground down and recycled into plastic lumber to be used for such products as flooring or park benches.   Lerners LLP is just one of many downtown Toronto offices that make use of GoJava’s coffee delivery and recycling program. The Adelaide Street law firm boasts more than 150 employees, many of whom make use of the office’s single-cup coffee systems, said Karen Hervias, Lerners’ administrative services co-ordinator.   “We go through quite a bit of coffee in a week,” she said, noting that they solicited GoJava’s services about six months ago as part of the firm’s overall waste diversion initiative.   To those ends, Hervias said Lerner also subscribes to GoJava’s Zero Waste Office program, which, for a fee, allows offices to recycle materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill — hard-to-recycle items such as paper coffee cups, foil packaging, electronics, batteries, ink cartridges and general office supplies.   “For us, it’s everything from staplers and calculators, to old laptops and binders,” said Nicole Sullivan, who helped spearhead Lerners’ zero-waste initiative alongside Hervias.   “One of the big things that drew us to (GoJava) was that we were collecting hundreds and hundreds of old binders ... We didn’t want them to end up in the landfill, but we couldn’t find a place where we could send them, either. Then the guys at GoJava mentioned that they teamed up with TerraCycle to deal with binders, so we got on board.”   Thus far, Sullivan said Lerners’ recycling partnership with GoJava has been a successful one she’d “absolutely” recommend to other offices.   “If we were to think of the legal field as an ocean ecosystem, our litigators and support staff would be the great whites of that ecosystem — they’re ferocious, they’re powerful, they get the job done,” she said.   “But, even they realize that, over time, their success depends on the health of the community, so adopting zero waste was just Lerners doing its part and leading by example.”

Waster has teamed up with TerraCycle to provide recycling solutions for hard to recycling waste utilising their Zero Waste Boxes.

Remember in school when you learned about the three “R’s? You know…reduce, reuse, recycle? (In case you forgot!)   Our kids are learning all about this too, but it’s changed. Recycling isn’t just putting your cans and bottles in the blue bin. Nope, you can recycle things now that we never dreamed of recycling when we were little, like bread bags and soft plastics.   But there are still things we can’t recycle. Things like pizza boxes, Styrofoam (sometimes you can, sometimes you can’t), juice boxes, milk boxes, coffee pods, batteries, art supplies, baby food pouches…you get my drift. So many of our every day products still end up in the trash, the landfill. And we used to want to be recycling heroes when we were younger! Remember? We all wanted to be a part of a big change. Why not now?   I FOUND A WAY.   There is a company called Terracycle. They are kick-ass revolutionaries who are making a difference in a big way.   I discovered them because my husband and I were given a coffee pod system. We LOVE coffee and my my husband really loves espresso. As much as I would love to have a proper espresso machine in my kitchen, the counter space just isn’t there. So this was a very thoughtful gift, and we love it. The only thing? The pods it uses are not recyclable AND they don’t sell a reusable pod (trust me, I looked).   Hmmm. I’m not going to lie, this did deter me from using it for a while, so I kept making pots of coffee because I felt bad throwing out pods EVERY SINGLE DAY. I mean, seriously. I was honestly surprised in this day and age, that a company would make a product that creates so much garbage AND that we couldn’t recycle it! For real, I was shocked.   AND THEN I FOUND TERRACYCLE ZERO WASTE BOXES.   They sent me a box where I happily chuck my used coffee pods and once the box is full, I mail it back to the company where they recycle all the parts. I feel amazing, and I don’t have to do any of the work. Win-win.   Yes, it costs. But is it worth it? I think so. Wouldn’t you rather pay a nominal fee than feel guilty every time you had a coffee? I drink a lot of coffee.   Terracycle sorts and shreds the pods, and here’s what happens to the separate parts:   Plastics are cleaned, pelletized, and turned into a variety of recycled materials, from plastic lumber to recycle bins. Metals are sent to be smelted /recycled. Coffee grinds are separated and sent to a composter who uses them on farmers fields.   How awesome is that???       In this day and age, this is the stuff that matters. And it really should. We can do something about it, and it doesn’t have to be difficult.       My Zero Waste box holds about 250 pods…I think it has about 50 in it, so we have a long way to go before we send it back.       I also love involving the kids in recycling, even if it’s something they’re not using right now. It’s important they know we care about the environment and that we’re doing something to protect it.       Oh-and if you think it begins and ends at coffee pods, you should check out their website! They have zero waste boxes for coffee capsules, drink pouches, hair nets, action figures, ink and toner, oral hygiene items, and so much more. It’s awesome!   Let me know if you end up getting one, I would love to hear about your experiences-and if you involve your kids!  

When it comes to being a steward for Mother Earth, doing your part to change some long sown habits and influence the behavior of your neighbors can seem intimidating, but focusing on the big picture brings personal goals within reach. Instead of simply writing down “recycle more” or “live more green,” make a resolution to do what makes sense for a sustainable planet, and live with the intention to do right by it. Walk down a greener path in 2017 and consider these 5 environmental intentions to get started: Read up on environmental news If today’s most pressing issues don’t directly affect your day to day lifestyle, sustainability can be a topic that feels very out of sight, out of mind. Being more cognizant of the scope and scale of the world’s environmental challenges by reading up and creating dialogues within your community will help you set intentions. Connect with your food The demand for perfect-looking produce, pre-packaged items and inexpensive meats creates food waste, excess packaging waste, greenhouse emissions, damage to farming ecosystems, and a general disconnect between us and what we put in our bodies. Being more mindful of what food is for (sustenance and keeping us healthy) may inspire you to shop local, buy less at a time and learn to cook from scratch. Give your time and/or money to a cause With the resources, anything is possible. Donating your time or your money to a cause you believe in has an immediate impact and raises awareness of the issues to the people around you. TerraCycle’s recycling programs present a unique opportunity to dedicate your time to recycling and raise money for the charity of your choice.  Focus on investing in items with maximum reuse potential The post-holiday clearance sales are a popular time for people to update their wardrobe or stock up on housewares for the New Year, but be wary of trends. Reuse is one of the first steps in reducing your carbon footprint, and investing in quality items you enjoy and plan on using for long time is a way to streamline your consumption. Learn how to recycle right Recycling more does not equal throwing all of your household plastics in one bin and hoping for the best. Many municipalities have resources available that will tell you exactly what is accepted through curbside recycling, and any guidelines for recycling them correctly. For items that fall outside this scope, there are private recycling companies, TerraCycle’s free recycling programs and custom Zero Waste Box solutions, which enable you to recycle hundreds of different waste streams that are not accepted municipally.