TERRACYCLE NEWS
ELIMINATING THE IDEA OF WASTE®
Terracycle Leads the Way in Fluorescent Bulb Recycling
Recycling goes well beyond aluminum cans, plastic bottles and cardboard. Today’s businesses are becoming more environmentally aware of warehouse and manufacturing materials that are typically just thrown away.
The costs of recycling, however, can be a burden to a company’s bottom line. The amount of extra labor involved in proper recycling can be significant. Businesses are always looking for ways to reduce operating costs as well as producing a more eco-friendly company.
While there is no easy solution, every effort counts. One recycling company in Lisle, IL has decided to focus on an everyday item that many people don’t ever give a second thought. Fluorescent light bulbs.
Fluorescent Bulb Disposal
Terrracycle Regulated Waste saw an opportunity to offer companies a safe and easy way to dispose of spent fluorescent bulbs while adhering to strict recycling regulations. Originally named Air Cycle, the well established recycling company was acquired by Terracycle in 2018.
I spoke with Joe Day, Manager of Strategic Partnerships of about their relationship with Terracycle, recycling programs and the innovative lamp crushing machine, the Bulb Eater®.
Day has been with the company for 18 years was fortunate enough to witness the evolution of the Bulb Eater. Developed in the early 90s, the Bulb Eater inhales a 4 foot fluorescent lamp and crushes the material, then holds the elements in a sealed container. Its filter system collects the mercury and phosphorous powder safely, separating these dangerous elements from the glass and aluminum.
"The first version was basically a 5 gallon poly pail. The inside components were more like a weed whacker,” said Day. "It catered to smaller companies looking to properly dispose of 4 foot bulbs.”
As the Bulb Eater gained popularity, the EPA and OSHA began to take notice.
"Each organization urged us to develop a more robust filtration system and improved recycling services,” said Day.
In the late 90s, the Bulb Eater evolved into its modern day version. Today’s machine utilizes a vacuum and 5 stage filtration system. The weed whacker has been replaced with a thick chain. It crushes spent lamps of any length, u-tubes, and compact fluorescent lights (CFL) into 100% recyclable material while capturing over 99.99% of the vapors released. The system, which is mounted onto a 55-gallon container, can hold up to 1350 4-foot fluorescent lamps.
The Bulb Eater’s popularity really took an upswing while displayed at the NECA Showstopper exhibition in Chicago.
"It made a huge splash and gave us some positive exposure. Sales went up from there,” said Day.
Today, there are over 8000 Bulb Eaters in use around the world. Large companies such as Caterpillar, the US Army, Amtrack and Coca Cola have jumped on board to utilize this recycling power tool.
So where does the recycled material end up?
"Each element within a bulb can be recycled properly. Mercury used to be very valuable, but as demand declined, the prices plummeted. Phosphorus powder actually has rare earth elements that can be used in electronic devices. By reusing these materials, we can reduce our reliance on foreign entities such as China,” says Day.
Since many states have banned bulbs that contain mercury from being dumped in landfills, recycling has become mandatory. This has made it tough on how to dispose of fluorescent bulbs.
Once full, the Bulb Eater drum will be picked up by a fully permitted truck. Certificates of Recycling are then provided once the lamps are recycled.
Day adds, "As the business grew, we have aligned ourselves with various recycling companies. These companies will take not only crushed bulbs, but batteries, ballast and electronic waste disposal.”
Nothing ends up in a landfill.
Cost Savings
Typically when recycling fluorescents, companies must pack up individual bulbs into a box and schedule a pick up from recyclers. The time and cost of labor to box up lamps, then pay to be removed can add up quickly. Terracycle claims the Bulb Crusher will reduce labor by up to 20 hours per 1,000 lamps and save up to 50% on recycling costs. It also reduces the amount of valuable square footage needed to store spent bulbs. With the Bulb Eater, the footprint can be reduced by 80%. The Bulb Crusher creates a safer work environment, save on labor costs, and saves money on recycling costs. The EPA estimates that 2-3% of bulbs are accidental broken while boxing lamps prior to pickup. The 0.001% mercury vapor emission from the Bulb Eater® lamp 5 stage filter system keeps workers safe and liability to a minimum.Bulb Eater Features
The name Bulb Eater says it all. Within 1 second, any length fluorescent tube will be pulverized into crumbs. The vacuum system is mounted to a 55 gallon drum and bulbs are slid down a "throat.” A long tube that the operator can safely insert spent bulbs as they are ground. For proper operation, an LED display called Intelli Technology assists with machine diagnostics, potential safety hazards maintenance and filter change-outs. Terracycle also includes an online training program. Each new machine comes with a thumbdrive that holds a training session and a quiz. Once the trainee passes the quiz, the thumbdrive can be downloaded into the Bulb Eater. The machine will not operate unless the training has been completed. A unique safety precaution that ensures proper usage and reduces liability.About Terracycle
Terracycle Regulated Waste and Air Cycle are just a part of a larger, worldwide recycling effort. As the push for more climate change regulation is forcing us to deal with our trash, more recycling innovations are on the horizon. The entire Terracycle corporation promotes the concept of "Eliminating the Idea of Waste®” by recycling the "non-recyclable.” In 2017, Terracycle was looking into additional streams of business. The recycling company discovered Air Cycle and a partnership was born. Acquiring Air Cycle was not only an important step in TerraCycle’s strategy of growth and diversification, but the Bulb Eater also marked a valuable addition to their existing repertoire of turn-key recycling solutions. Since TerraCycle’s voluntary recycling initiatives, like the Sponsored Waste and Zero Waste Box programs, involve on-demand collection solutions that are shipped to TerraCycle for processing, the similar Bulb Eater system melded well with the company’s existing offerings. By introducing the Bulb Eater and EasyPak systems essentially filled a void in TerraCycle’s existing recycling solutions. Since 2001, Air Cycle’s parent company, Terracycle has taken on the challenge of recycling all waste, turning it back into raw material and make new products. It currently operates in over 20 countries and the program is used by over 60 million people. Founder Tom Szaky was only a 20 year old freshman at Princeton when he came up with the idea. It began with producing organic fertilizer by packaging liquid worm poop in used soda bottles. From those simple beginnings, TerraCycle has grown into one of the fastest growing green companies in the world. The philosophy of Szaky and Terracycle is that nearly everything can be recycled. By using only circular methods, such as reuse, upcycling or recycling, the company finds ways to repurpose the waste through their various programs. By volume, over 97% of the waste that is collected is repurposed. No waste is ever thrown into a landfill or incinerated. As for the items that Terracyle will collect, basics like paper, plastic and aluminum are common, but also items you would never imagine could be recycled. Things like sports balls, art supplies, candy wrappers, batteries and plastic action figures. Even cigarettes. Terracycle has developed programs for all these hard to get rid of items. As for the Bulb Eater, it’s doing its part in building a sustainable nation. Don’t discount the little things. Light bulbs do not need to be just thrown away. So, the next time you see those fluorescent bulbs flickering above your head, save the planet and shove it down the throat of a Bulb Eater.There butt for the grace of receptacles...
Local businesses launch initiative to educate Pearl District business owners, residents, and visitors on cigarette bin locations, use, and disposal.
On a brisk November morning, David Mitchell and John Wertzler are doing their part to stop the spread of one of the greatest environmental threats in Portland — cigarette butts.
No, seriously.
Cigarette butts are nonbiodegradable and loaded with toxic chemicals generated during smoking. They include nicotine and heavy metals. Up to an estimated 6 trillion cigarettes are smoked around the world every year and two-thirds of them are discarded into the environment, where they threaten people and wildlife.
"Cigarette butts don't break down easily and are toxic for years," said Mitchell, standing next to The Armory Theater at Northwest Davis Street and 11th Avenue.
So together with Wertzler, Mitchell attached a small metal box to a Portland Bureau of Transportation sign post. It was a receptacle for butts from TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based company that recycles them into safe consumer products, such as plastic pallets and flower pots. The ash and tobacco are separated out and composted in a specialized process.
Mitchell and Wertzler are volunteer members of the Pearl District Neighborhood Association, which has launched an initiative to install 105 of the boxes throughout the district. Association volunteers will empty them out and ship the contents to the company, ensuring the discarded butts will never harm the environment.
The visible sides of the 18-by-4-by-4-inch box are covered with bright red decals announcing its purpose. After the installation, Wertzler christened it with a few butts picked up from the sidewalk.
Mitchell, the program leader and former chairman of the neighborhood association's Livability and Safety Committee, first began pursuing the project three years ago. A nonsmoker, he was increasingly appalled by the butts he saw piling up on streets and sidewalks throughout the district where he lives and wanted to do something about it.
Researching the issue, he discovered that other cities already were working with TerraCycle. Pittsburgh has installed 200 of the receptacles and is shipping 150 pounds of butts to the company every week, said Mitchell, a retired health care consultant.
Launching the program involved more work, including contacting several city bureaus to figure out with whom to partner. The neighborhood association raised $5,500 to buy the first 60 boxes and mounting hardware. Contributors include neighborhood association donors, the R2C Group, Judie Dunken Real Estate, and the Northwest Neighborhoods Parks and Recreation Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation.
The installations started a few weeks ago and will be completed soon. If all goes well, fundraising will begin for the remaining 45 boxes. Donors will have the opportunity to have their names on box decals.
The 60 tamperproof and fire-resistant boxes are being installed in targeted locations that have a high concentration of cigarette butts, including entrances to apartment buildings, office buildings and bars.
Mitchell personally walked the streets over the past three years to identify the locations, which he has marked on a map of the district. In one location, Mitchell and his wife collected 1,500 discarded butts in one hour.
"It's very labor intensive to pick up cigarette butts. It's much harder than other litter," Mitchell said.
The boxes will be emptied regularly by volunteers with the neighborhood association's Clean Streets program, which was formed to pick up litter in the district six months ago because of concerns about livability.
Boxes in one part of the district will be emptied by employees of Clean and Safe, a program affiliated with the Portland Business Association that helps clean up downtown streets.
Other project partners include the R2C Group, an advertising firm in the district that has sponsored 10 boxes and is developing a donated public awareness campaign that will stress the environmental hazards of cigarette butts. It will include posters and targeted social media advertising.
"R2C Group fully supports PDNA's efforts to remove toxic cigarette butts from our streets and our parks. We're eager to utilize our advertising expertise to communicate the benefits of this program, illustrate where to find the disposal bins, and how to use them," said Michelle Cardinal, CEO and co-founder of R2C Group.
Another partner is Central City Concern, a nonprofit social service agency, which operates residential drug and alcohol treatment programs in the district where clients frequently smoke on the sidewalks.
The program is the most recent of several efforts to better clean up the city. Mayor Ted Wheeler proclaimed Portland should be "the cleanest and most livable city in the United States" in September 2018. He subsequently announced the "Keep it Pretty, Rose City" program that includes the purchase and installation of large-capacity garbage cans throughout town that are emptied more frequently than before.
Mitchell applauds the new cans, but says smokers know not to throw their butts into them.
"I've talked to many smokers during the course of researching this, and they know they're a fire hazard," Mitchell said.
Wheeler has endorsed the butts project, and so has Commissioner Nick Fish.
Other cities already working with TerraCycle include Seattle, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Mitchell said he hopes other neighborhoods in Portland will be inspired to launch similar programs.
"Cigarette butts are a problem everywhere," Mitchell said.
Mountain House Partners With TerraCycle to Announce Free Recycling Program
Mountain House Partners With TerraCycle To Announce Free Recycling Program
Sustainability small grants help fund campus and health care initiatives
- The General Sustainability & Social Justice Incentives Fund allows all university and health care students, faculty and staff to request up to $3,000 for any project or research related to sustainability at Emory and the intersections of sustainability and social justice.
- The Green Offices Incentives Fund and Green Labs Incentives Fund support sustainability in Emory’s work and research spaces by funding sustainable processes and procedures in Emory University and Emory Healthcare offices and labs that are certified through the respective programs. Up to $5,000 is available for proposals that encourage changes in behavior, practices and equipment utilized in these spaces in areas such as energy, water, waste, safety, health, engagement and purchasing.
General Sustainability and Social Justice Incentives Fund
- Air Emory (team leader Eri Saikawa): Monitoring and reporting air quality around Emory University’s main campus in a way that informs and educates the Emory community
- Bee Campus USA (team leader Kaysee Arrowsmith; staff advisor Andrea Mitchell): Raising awareness of the roles pollinators play and enhancing sustainable habitats for pollinators on Emory’s campus through plantings and educational programs
- Earth Matters on Stage: Ecodrama Playwrights Festival (team leader Lydia Fort): Fostering new dramatic works that respond to the ecological crisis and exploring new possibilities of being in a relationship with the more-than-human world
- EmPower: Tackling Energy Burdens in Atlanta with Energy Efficiency Upgrades (team leader Megan Deyhle; faculty advisor Justin Burton): Training Atlanta-area K-12 classes about ways to conduct energy audits and install more energy-efficient upgrades to homes as a means to help reduce the energy burden for students’ families
- Enhanced Green Learning Environments (team leader Cristina Sanchez; faculty advisor Sarah Blanton): Increasing sustainability signage, student art and greenery in the Department of Physical Therapy
- Goizueta Sustainability Campaign (team leader Sophie Reiser; staff advisor Harriet Ruskin): Leading a three-week campaign to equip Goizueta students to commit to reducing waste, eating more sustainable food and using more sustainable commute options
- Let’s Ride MARTA (team leader Aaron Klingensmith; faculty advisor Shaunna Donaher): Educating students about the personal and societal benefits of using transportation, debunking myths of MARTA and hosting a MARTA scavenger hunt to show Emory’s connectivity through public transit
- Monarch and Milkweed (team leader Jacobus de Roode): Raising awareness of the plight of the monarch butterfly and the importance of pollinators through an art installation and public outreach
- The pARTner Project: Arts “Hack-a-thon” Themed with Sustainability (team leader Cynthia Peng; faculty advisor Dana Haugaard): Encouraging a collective of engaged Emory students in all factions of the arts to create sustainability-themed artwork with mostly repurposed materials in a 24-hour competition and showcase
- Reusable Recess Cups (team leader Amneh Minkara; faculty advisor Mindy Goldstein): Replacing 3,000 disposable cups currently used per semester by students at Emory Law School Recess with reusable stainless steel cups to reduce waste
- Sustainable and Healthy Commuting through Bike Repair Services (team leader Lalita Martin; staff advisor Benjamin Kasavan): Providing bike repair services in a hands-on educational way to cyclists at the on-campus Fixie in order to encourage biking in the Emory community
- Using Sustainable Materials to Reduce Bird Collisions on Campus (team leader Ananda Woods; faculty advisor John Wegner): Studying bird mortality on Emory’s campus and piloting using bird-proofing vinyl on windows to decrease the mortality rate due to collisions with glass
Green Labs Incentives Fund
- Blakey Lab Goes Greener and Cleaner (team leader Taylor Farmer Nelson): Adding a dishwasher to decrease water used in lab cleaning procedures by 80% while maintaining a standard of cleanliness required for research
- epGreen Centrifuge Implementation (team leader Radhika Sharma): Replacing current centrifuges with an epGreen centrifuge to reduce energy, costs and environmental impact.
- Lab Waste Management (team leader Elena Jordanov): Diverting waste in labs by purchasing Terracycle nitrile zero waste boxes for gloves and increasing color-coded composting and recycling bins
Green Offices Incentives Fund
- Brain Health Center (BHC) Sustainability Initiative (team leader Elizabeth Dee): Facilitating the reduction and diversion of waste from the BHC by installing a hydration station, dishwasher for reusable kitchen items and hand dryers, as well as piloting a composting and recycling system.
I Pitched My Eco-Friendly Product on Shark Tank—Here's My Morning Routine
What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before diving into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine. Tune in every Monday morning here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.
Of all my hobbies and pastimes, one of my favorites is discussing with my boyfriend which brands we'd invest in on Shark Tank. It's never just a simple "I like it" or "I wouldn't use it" but a full analysis of the target audience, how we'd market it, and in which ways we'd imagine the brand expanding. (We're a really fun pair, I know.) While I'm obviously no expert—and really have no authority to speak on this whatsoever besides the fact that I simply enjoy it—all the products I always root for have one thing in common: They're relatable.
Take Blueland, for example. It replaces single-use plastic cleaning products with reusable bottles and eco-friendly soap tablets. You might have been unfamiliar with the brand (it only launched less than a year ago) until recently when its founder and CEO appeared on an episode of Shark Tank and won (!) a deal with Mr. Wonderful.
Like many of us, Sarah Paiji was frustrated with the amount of plastic pollution that constantly floods our environment and wanted to create an easy way to cut back on waste. On a personal level, one of her biggest concerns was the high amount of microplastics that were found in the water she was using for her baby's formula.
Amid recent reports on the rapid escalation of climate change and its scary impact on the environment, it seems that protecting our Earth has become even more top of mind for many of us as of late. States have passed legislation to replace plastic straws with paper, Greta Thunberg has taken environmental activism by storm, even our own office has recently replaced plastic utensils and cups with reusable mugs and utensils in an effort to cut back on waste. In conclusion: Blueland is completely on point.
As you might expect, the company's founder is on her own personal journey to be more sustainable, and her morning routine certainly reflects that. Whether you want to be inspired by someone who runs her own company or a person with an eco-friendly morning routine, keep scrolling for all the ways Sarah is a sustainable morning person.
6:15 A.M.
Every morning, I wake up before my husband and 2-year-old son, Noah, and I head straight into the kitchen to hydrate. I have a glass of water and fix myself a cup of coffee to enjoy while taking a few quality moments for myself.
6:30 A.M.
With my coffee in hand, I sit down with my gratitude journal and write one to two things I’m thankful for before starting my day. This is an important routine for me as it’s so easy to lose sight of all the things I have to be grateful for in this hectic mom and startup life. Journaling helps me set the tone for the day and helps me channel the positive energy I need to take on the world as a mom and leader!
6:45 A.M.
Time to get ready! First things first, I wash my hands with Blueland Hand Soap and put in my contacts. Living a low-waste lifestyle and being mindful of recycling has been a personal mission of mine and is now what I’ve built my business on. Many contact-lens wearers are not very conscious of the plastic waste accumulating from daily use, but we can change that! I collect my contact cases to recycle in bulk with TerraCycle.
I get ready in our guest bathroom, as it’s right next to Noah’s room so I can keep an eye on him in his crib as I put on my makeup. I keep my makeup routine simple and quick. I swear by The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane serum and Kjaer Weis’s organic mascara and blush, and I never leave the house without sunscreen!
7:30 A.M.
Back in the kitchen! This time I’m feeding Noah breakfast so we’re both ready to take on the day! Today he’s having cereal and pears.
8 A.M.
Out the door! Noah and I take a morning stroll to the farmers market at least twice a week to drop off our compost. I collect food scraps from the week in the freezer (which eliminates any risk for foul smells or bugs) and empty it at the composting station at the Union Square farmers market.
Did you know that when we send food to landfills, it can’t properly break down? Instead, it emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change! Composting in a large urban city might seem tricky, but there are foolproof ways to compost your food scraps such as dropping them off at your local farmers market.
8:30 A.M.
Next, Noah gets dropped off for school. I love having school drop-off duty, as it allows me to have those extra precious moments with my son and see him in his school environment with his friends. Running a startup gets to be demanding, and an unpredictable schedule comes with the job, making it more likely that I’ll miss out on the afternoon pickups for Noah.
After I drop off Noah, I head for another coffee fix, always in my reusable Byta. Most coffee spots offer a discount if you bring your own reusable cup. Pair that with saving the planet, and it’s a win-win!
The commute to the Blueland office, albeit short, provides a momentary escape since I listen to my favorite podcasts. Depending on the day or my mood, I’ll use this time to catch up on world news, listen to fellow entrepreneurs’ journeys on series, or continue to educate myself on sustainability and environmental impact initiatives. My favorite podcasts include Girlboss, Town Haul, and Product Hunt.
9 A.M.
Just got to the office! Time to build a better future with the amazing Blueland team!Recycling challenge winners announced
- Writing implement category – Frederica Academy, first place; Satilla Marsh Elementary, second place and Sterling Elementary, third place.
- Oral care category – Satilla Marsh Elementary, first place; Sterling Elementary, second place and St. Francis Xavier, third place.
- Cereal bag category – Satilla Marsh Elementary, first place; Oglethorpe Point Elementary, second place and First Baptist Preschool, third place.
20+ Sustainable & Ethical Gifts For Everyone On Your List
Welcome to the GZW gift guide of 2019! Creating gift guides every year is one of my favorite blog posts to write.
Both my mother and I have the love language of gifts. And, I’ve worked to reconcile that with adopting a more minimal and low-waste lifestyle to the point that my love language has probably shifted to acts of service.
But, the fact remains, I still love gifting and receiving physical gifts. I love gifting experiences and consumable gifts, but I also love giving physical things too.
Gifting physical gifts is a rare opportunity to spread the sustainable living message in a kind way. I have gifted small reusable items like straws or beeswax wraps and watched my non-eco parents and friends love the products SO much that they started adopting more zero waste habits.
If you’ve ever gifted a zero-waste swap, then you know what I’m talking about!
I’ve divided this blog post into a few separate categories so you can easily find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
reVessel Adventure Kit
This adventure kit is designed as a completely modular system so all of the pieces can be used together or separate making this perfect for packing up leftovers, getting take away, bringing lunch to work or school, and even for meal prepping.
The kit is also leakproof and oven safe making it a foodies best friend. ReVessel also gives back a portion of each sale to Farmer’s Footprint and Changing Tides.
Check out the reVessel Adventure Kit
Bestselling Bundle
The best thing about the Further Food blends is that they’ve already mixed the adaptogens in!
While Further Food is packaged in plastic, they use 100% post-consumer recycled plastic #2.
Using recycled plastic reduces the carbon footprint by 78%, drastically improves the carbon footprint for travel due to it being lighter than glass, it consumes 90% less energy, and it’s a pure plastic (not a mix!) so it can be recycled again and again.
Check out Further Food’s Bestselling Bundle and get 15% off with the code ‘GOINGZEROWASTE’
Homestead Turkey & Chicken
Let’s be honest, Nala is probably a bigger foodie than me. And, that girl is picky! She’s a food snob and has been known to turn her nose up at A LOT of good food.
However, she LOVES Open Farm! And, I love Open Farm because they have amazing traceability, and they source from Certified Humane farms. They’ve also partnered with TerraCycle so all of their packaging can be taken back for recycling.
Check out Nala’s Fav Homestead Turkey & Chicken
Loose Leaf Tea Gift Set
Wize Monkey has made an award-winning delicious tea from coffee leaves. Yes - coffee leaves! Sounds crazy, but when you taste it, you'll know why it's critically acclaimed.
Coffee leaves normally get discarded during the 9 month off season when most most farmers are out of work so Wize Monkey is helping by offering employment during that time! My personal favorite is the loose leaf Earl Gray.
Check out the build your own loose leaf gift set and get 20% off with the code ‘gwf20’
I really hope you enjoyed my gift guide this year! I’m going to link to a few more holiday posts below, and stay tuned for my Stocking Stuffer guide that’s coming out on Friday!
- gifts for the adventurer
- gifts for the home
- gifts for the budding environmentalist
- gifts for the fashionista
- gifts for the foodie