I am completely inspired by Tom Szaky’s approach to changing, and changing, and changing his business model to ultimately achieve his organization’s mission. Tom is the CEO of TerraCycle, a recycling company, who described in this New York Times boss blog how he kept adapting his business model until he got it right:

This year, a group of sixth graders, collectively called “The Leaders for the Future,” spearheaded a recycling program at Lawrence Intermediate School that culminated with a mass delivery to TerraCycle waste collection at the end of May. The students began the planning stages in January during a two-day character education program, sponsored by State Farm Insurance. The program was designed to encourage leadership among the youth. Students developed a plan of action to reduce the amount of trash from the cafeteria and individual classrooms. In the lunch room, bins were set out to collect Capri Sun drink pouches and Frito-Lay chip bags. The leadership group sorted out these bins, packaged the recycled goods, and sent them to TerraCycle in Trenton, N.J.

One of the biggest summer attractions in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex is Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. This park has everything from wild rides and rollercoasters to live shows and concerts. Now through August 31, 2011 visitors can save $15 off a regular admission ticket when you bring in a package from specially-marked Kraft cheese products. Six Flags has teamed up with Kraft and TerraCycle to help you save money and the environment this summer. Simply bring an empty specially-marked Kraft String Cheese package to the front gate and get a $15 discount.

Kraft and Six Flags are offering discounts at parks across the country for visitors who bring in specially marked string cheese packaging for recycling. The packaging will be sent to TerraCycle, an upcycling and recycling company, and made into plastic products including plastic lumber and plastic pavers. Visitors who bring specially marked Kraft String Cheese packaging to Six Flags will receive $15 off general admission any day of the week. Six Flags and Kraft have teamed up with TerraCycle to collect and recycle the cheese packaging. Normally, this packaging is not recyclable in most areas of the country , and this is the first time it will be recycled! TerraCycle will make the packaging into eco-friendly plastic products including trash cans, flower pots, plastic plywood, park benches, and picnic tables.

This year, a group of sixth graders, collectively called “The Leaders for the Future,” spearheaded a recycling program at Lawrence Intermediate School that culminated with a mass delivery to TerraCycle waste collection at the end of May. The students began the planning stages in January during a two-day character education program, sponsored by State Farm Insurance. The program was designed to encourage leadership among the youth. Students developed a plan of action to reduce the amount of trash from the cafeteria and individual classrooms. In the lunch room, bins were set out to collect Capri Sun drink pouches and Frito-Lay chip bags. The leadership group sorted out these bins, packaged the recycled goods, and sent them to TerraCycle in Trenton, N.J.

Free Collection Program for Schools and Non-Profits Hits Major Milestone in Canada Drink pouches are a popular addition to lunches and can be found in almost every cafeteria and classroom <http://gamutnews.com/20110607/17241/canadian-recycling-brigade-diverts-one-million-drink-pouches.html#>  in Canada. Unfortunately these items cannot be recycled through traditional recycling programs. As of this week, Drink Pouch Brigades across Canada have helped collect more than one million pouches and TerraCycle has contributed over $20,000 to schools <http://gamutnews.com/20110607/17241/canadian-recycling-brigade-diverts-one-million-drink-pouches.html#>  and non-profits!

Drink pouches are a popular addition to lunches and can be found in almost every cafeteria and classroom in Canada. Unfortunately these items cannot be recycled through traditional recycling programs. As of this week, Drink Pouch Brigades across Canada have helped collect more than one million pouches and TerraCycle has contributed over $20,000 to schools and non-profits! Across Canada over 2,700 schools, non-profits and community groups have joined together to help collect the one million pieces. Exactly how much is one million drink pouches? It is enough to cover nine hockey rinks or 33 basketball courts. Students, teachers and community members from almost 3,000 communities across Canada are working together to assure this packaging is no longer waste and can be given new life by TerraCycle. "It gives the students a chance to participate and see results for their actions. We can collect waste and get paid for it," says Sandra Ross, parent volunteer at William S. Patterson P.S. in Clandeboye, Manitoba.

Parents and teachers- this is a really great way to recycle and help your local school! Every year, BILLIONS of drink pouches end up in dumpsters and landfills across America.  TerraCycle,Capri Sun® and Honest Kids® are working together to put an end to this awful loss of resources. As  an eco-friendly innovator, TerraCycle converts the drink pouch material into unique from tote bags and pencil cases to plastic lumber and  pavers! TerraCycle is proud to team up with the largest producer of  drink pouches in the country, Capri Sun, and a young organic entry into  the market, Honest Kids, to help address this problem! Together with  your help we CAN make a difference!

TerraCycle Canada Inc.'s GM Luisa Girotto and communications manager Laurent Cassar (in back) to mark one-million drink pouches donated by Canadians to the North York-based company. Students diverted more than 3,000 drink pouches from landfill and donated them to TerraCycle, which "upcycles" non-recyclable materials into 200 new products.    Staff Photo/TAMARA SHEPHARD Most kids toss their non-recyclable drink pouches in the trash. Dixon Grove Junior Middle School students donate their drink pouches by the thousands to TerraCycle, a North York-based company that repurposes them into fashion bags, tote bags, lunch bags and pencil cases. TerraCycle gives the Etobicoke elementary school $0.02 per pouch, proceeds of which will send students to the Humber Arboretum and the Don Valley Brickworks before the end of the school year.

The example of TerraCycle from the US shows how sustainability and charity can go hand in hand. In the US alone, more than 12 million people are already collecting garbage for Terracycle. The company uses it to create new products, such as bags, loudspeakers or cushions.  In the space of only four years, TerraCycle has managed to increase its turnover from 4.5 million euros to an estimated 14 million euros this year. Globally, the company has now set up more than eighty thousand collection points.