This is a particularly tough time to be telling businesses that using more recycled materials makes good economic sense. Falling oil prices have lowered the price of virgin plastic against the recycled stuff, which has put off manufacturers and hurt recycling companies (plastic makes up a growing share of their waste feed). Without a price on carbon, using recycled commodities does not necessarily help a company’s bottom line. “People aren’t going to pay more for recycled plastic just because it’s recycled,” says Tom Szaky of TerraCycle, which makes consumer products from waste.

TerraCycle, which specializes in hard-to-recycle waste, collects cigarette butts, which are then turned into industrial products like plastic pallets.

The Little Bites Pouch Brigade, sponsored by Entenmann's and New Jersey-based recycling firm Terracycle, offers financial rewards — two cents per wrapper — to schools that collect and send in recycled Little Bites wrappers. With funding provided by Entenmann's, Terracycle collects the wrappers and uses them to make new products — from lunch boxes to picnic tables.

There’s a company that will recycle, basically, everything! TerraCycle wants your trash, and they will pay you (well, a nonprofit of your choice) to send it to them.