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TerraCycle Made collection offers useful products created from recycled materials for the holidays

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash than any other time of year - amounting to nearly 25 million tons of excess waste each year. This holiday season, TerraCycle is launching the TerraCycle Made collection, a small selection of products created from recycled and recyclable materials all sourced from various TerraCycle recycling programs. The TerraCycle Made collection includes: Wireless charger: 100 percent recycled content including materials collected through TerraCycle recycling programs. Upcycled coin pouch, travel case, tablet case, and tote: All made in the U.S. from retired USPS mailbags. Stackable organizers, compost bin, divided trash/recycling bin, and other assorted household goods: All made from recycled content including materials collected through TerraCycle recycling programs. Every purchase from the TerraCycle Made collection reduces the reliance on virgin materials extracted from the planet while creating long-lasting, essential products, to stand up to years of use in the home. By making new items from the materials collected by the TerraCycle community, this valuable resource never goes to waste. The TerraCycle Made collection has a free, built-in recycling program to make sure each purchase will never end up in the trash. The recycled-content products are made to last, but at the end of their useful life, they can be sent back and recycled again through TerraCycle.

ITAD and E-Waste Recycling Solution

TerraCycle Regulated Waste keeps old tech out of landfills and sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands
November 23, 2021
Whether a small company handling purchase orders and finances, a giant legal office dealing with sensitive lawsuits for high-profile clients, or a consumer trying to figure out what to do with their old home computer, all of these examples are united by the need for efficient and reliable IT asset disposition (ITAD) and e-waste recycling solutions. In response, TerraCycle Regulated Waste (TCRW), a commercial recycling solution provider that specializes in the collection and repurposing of complex regulated waste streams, has launched a suite of products and services designed carry out the compliant and eco-friendly disposal of unwanted electronics while ensuring proper data destruction.
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“Since the start of the pandemic and the trend of companies embracing work-from-home schedules, IT departments, no matter the size or the industry, require some form of dependable data sanitization,” said Kevin Flynn, Global Vice President of TerraCycle Operations, and Director of TerraCycle Regulated Waste. “The need to outfit workers with the latest remote-ready tech while reliably managing data on old devices and recycling them appropriately has exploded. In answer, TerraCycle Regulated Waste has created a robust suite of services that allow businesses and consumers alike to streamline their e-waste recycling requirements and ITAD needs with the type of turnkey recycling solutions that TerraCycle is known for.” E-Waste Mail Back Recycling The EasyPak Electronics Recycling Container – Serialized and the EasyPak WFH & Workspace Electronics Recycling Container – Serialized, were designed to offer a one-step solution to recycle any e-waste that can be powered-on or is home to a chip or board parts. This includes, but is not limited to, LEDS, computers, monitors, telecom gear, fax machines, and televisions. These safe, convenient and data-secure methods for the recycling and disposition of electronics, include a detailed report with make/model/serial numbers of the disposed of items that provides proof that they were securely recycled. Bulk E-Waste Freight Recycling The BulkPak E-waste Serialized Recycling Kit offers IT managers a turnkey effective solution for the recycling bulk quantities of e-waste that can be powered-on or is home to a chip or board parts, including CPU’s, monitors, and e-scrap. ITAD Machine Solutions For individual purchase, and utilized by TCRW to process the e-waste received in through the mail-back and freight solutions, TCRW offers two state-of-the-art systems that ensure that the data on the discarded electronic devices never fall into the wrong hands. They include:
  • Destroy-It Hard Drive Punch: At the touch of a button, the Destroy-It Hard Drive Punch makes discarded hard drives from PCs, laptops, notebooks, printers, copiers, and PDAs unreadable by punching a hardened steel die completely through the drive.
  • Degaussing Machine: To support the growing demand for user-friendly data erasure technology, TCRW is now a proud supplier of high speed and economical degaussing solutions. This new line of degaussing products will provide your organization with the assurance that your media and data-bearing devices no longer contain any confidential information before being sent off site for recycling.
As an added incentive and level of security, TerraCycle Regulated Waste provides customers with a Certificate of Destruction to verify that the waste has been dismantled and all data storage components have been destroyed pursuant to all applicable laws, including environmental and waste management regulations. Additionally, the destruction process will also ensure that all data equipment is destroyed and unusable in its original state.

Terracycle launches suite of ITAD products and services

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The products and services to assure clients their data is destroyed safely.

TerraCycle Regulated Waste (TCRW), a commercial recycling solution provider owned by TerraCycle, Trenton, New Jersey, has launched a suite of products and information technology asset disposition (ITAD) services. The offerings are designed to carry out the compliant and eco-friendly disposal of unwanted electronics while ensuring proper data destruction. “Since the start of the pandemic and the trend of companies embracing work-from-home schedules, IT departments, no matter the size or the industry, require some form of dependable data sanitization,” says Kevin Flynn, global vice president of TerraCycle Operations. “TerraCycle Regulated Waste has created a robust suite of services that allow businesses and consumers alike to streamline their e-waste recycling requirements and ITAD needs with the type of turnkey recycling solutions that TerraCycle is known for.” TCRW offers:
  • e-waste mail-back recycling – The EasyPak Electronics Recycling Container and EasyPak WFH & Workspace Electronics Recycling Container were designed to offer a one-stop solution to recycle any e-scrap that can be powered on or is home to a chip or board parts. This includes LEDs, computers, monitors, telecom gear, fax machines and televisions. These data-secure methods for the recycling and disposition of electronics include a detailed report with make, model and serial numbers of the disposed items that prove that they are securely recycled.
  • bulk e-easte freight recycling – The BulkPak E-waste Serialized Recycling Kit offers managers a turnkey solution for the recycling bulk quantities of electronics that can be powered on or is home to a chip or board parts. This includes CPUs, monitors and e-scrap.
  • ITAD machine solutions – For individual purchase and used by TCRW to process e-scrap received through its mail-back and freight solutions, TCRW offers two systems that ensure the data on the discarded electronic devices never fall into the wrong hands. This includes the Destroy-It Hard Drive Punch, which makes discarded hard drives unreadable by punching hardened steel die completely through the drive, the company says.
To support the growing demand for user-friendly data erasure technology, TCRW says it supplies high-speed and economical degaussing solutions. This line of products provides organizations with the assurance that media and data-bearing devices no longer contain confidential information before being sent offsite for recycling. TerraCycle Regulated Waste also provides customers with a Certificate of Destruction to verify that the devices have been dismantled and all data storage components have been destroyed according to all applicable laws.

TerraCycle Regulated Waste targets ITAD and E-waste

By Recycling Product News Staff  November 22, 2021
image.pngTerraCycle's EasyPak Electronics Recycling Container was designed to offer a recycling solution for any e-waste that can be powered-on or is home to a chip or board parts.
  TerraCycle Regulated Waste (TCRW), a commercial recycling solution provider that specializes in the collection and repurposing of complex regulated waste streams, has launched a suite of products and services designed carry out the compliant and eco-friendly disposal of unwanted electronics while ensuring proper data destruction. "Since the start of the pandemic and the trend of companies embracing work-from-home schedules, IT departments, no matter the size or the industry require some form of dependable data sanitization," said Kevin Flynn, Global Vice President of TerraCycle Operations and Director of TerraCycle Regulated Waste. "The need to outfit workers with the latest remote-ready tech while reliably managing data on old devices and recycling them appropriately has exploded. In answer, TerraCycle Regulated Waste has created a robust suite of services that allow businesses and consumers alike to streamline their e-waste recycling requirements and ITAD needs with the type of turnkey recycling solutions that TerraCycle is known for."

E-waste mail back recycling

The EasyPak electronics recycling container - and the EasyPak WFH & workspace electronics recycling container - were designed to offer a one-step solution to recycle any e-waste that can be powered-on or is home to a chip or board parts. This includes LEDS, computers, monitors, telecom gear, fax machines and televisions. These safe, convenient and data-secure methods for the recycling and disposition of electronics include a detailed report with make/model/serial numbers of the disposed of items that provides proof that they securely recycled.

Bulk e-waste freight recycling

The BulkPak e-waste serialized recycling kit offers IT managers a turnkey effective solution for the recycling bulk quantities of e-waste that can be powered-on or is home to a chip or board parts, including CPU's, monitors and e-scrap.

ITAD machine solutions

For individual purchase and utilized by TCRW to process the e-waste received in through the mail-back and freight solutions, TCRW offers two systems that ensure that the data on the discarded electronic devices never fall into the wrong hands. They include:
  • Destroy-It Hard Drive Punch: At the touch of a button, the Destroy-It Hard Drive Punch makes discarded hard drives from PCs, laptops, notebooks, printers, copiers, and PDAs unreadable by punching a hardened steel die completely through the drive.
  • Degaussing Machine: To support the growing demand for user-friendly data erasure technology, TCRW is now a supplier of high speed and economical degaussing solutions.  This new line of degaussing products will provide organizations with the assurance that media and data-bearing devices no longer contain any confidential information before being sent off site for recycling.
As an added incentive and level of security, TerraCycle Regulated Waste provides customers with a Certificate of Destruction to verify that the waste has been dismantled and all data storage components have been destroyed pursuant to all applicable laws including environmental and waste management regulations. Additionally, the destruction process will also ensure that all data equipment is destroyed and unusable in its original state.

Solution for recycling e-cigarette in the works

November 22, 2021 
In recent years, the popularity of electronic cigarettes has risen significantly, creating the current and pressing issue of finding recycling methods for generated waste, as opposed to sending it off to the landfill. TerraCycle, a business aimed at recycling non-recyclable products, has created a project to help deal with the growing issue of e-cigarette waste. Their solution, called “Smoke Free Recycling Program” is a free initiative open to anyone over the age of 19 in which they can send in or drop off their HEET sticks, VEEV devices and cartridges/pods to be recycled. The waste will be repurposed to make new products from the recycled material. “The long-term goal is really to collect and recycle as high a percentage of these products as possible,” says Tom Skazy, the CEO of TerraCycle. “With the program just launching, the collection rates will be lower as people become aware of it, so it’s first [about changing] behavior and then it’s about absolute scale of the program.” Skazy noted how the sale of e-cigarettes has multiplied around 400 per cent in the past five years, and with many deciding to make the switch from combustible cigarettes, an increase of waste product is expected. “It’s important, I think, to get ahead of it, so the culture doesn’t emerge as it has with traditional combustible cigarettes,” says Skazy. He urges companies to aid in this growing issue by attempting to reduce the amount of materials used in products or packages, along with replacing disposable packaging with something reusable and durable. It’s estimated that 15,000 tonnes of cigarette waste is generated in Canada each year, and improper disposal can kill fish, freshwater invertebrates, harm birds and plants, as well as remaining toxic for long after they are discarded.
“Thirty-seven per cent of roadway litter is combustible cigarettes,” says Skazy, adding cigarette filters are the most common form of litter. In terms of e-cigarettes, they have similar make ups to traditional cigarettes, but certain components make them “hazardous waste”. These products contain nicotine, electronic circuitry and lithium-ion batteries, meaning they can leach hazardous material into the environment. Essentially, TerraCycle’s initiative is set to begin to deal with the growing waste issue, before it gets to the extent of combustible cigarette waste. “With all kinds of waste and pollutants, we need to find a way to deal with the waste,” says Laura Campbell, Green Party candidate for Dufferin-Caledon. “I know that the waste can be highly toxic and it can be problematic for groundwater just as regular cigarette butts.” Being in the headwater’s region, maintaining clean groundwater is essential, according to Campbell. “I would encourage obviously, consumers to educate themselves, but it would also be a really good initiative for the town to educate everybody on chemical wastes from all kinds of household products including e cigarettes,” Campbell says. “It’s problematic because it’s something new that’s now adding to an already existing problem.” To start recycling e-cigarette waste and cigarette butts, visit: www.terracycle.com/en-CA/brigades/smoke-free-en-ca

3 Gift Ideas for the Deserving Packaging Professional

Add a personal touch to holiday gifts for the packaging peeps on your list this year, courtesy of your friends at Packaging Digest. Since a packaging career is often a family affair and camaraderie eclipses competition for the most part, you probably have a packaging professional on your holiday gift list. You can only get them so many funny socks and coffee mugs. And last-minute impulse buying rarely produces a sincere “Oh, thank you! I love it!” response. What to do, what to do. Here are a few ideas that might inspire you to buy one for them and one for you. 1. An industry-related book. (7 reviews!) 2. Personalized T-shirts. (Multiple sayings!) 3. Consumer goods made from recycled packages/materials. (3 options) A quick search on Amazon for books from 2021 about packaging turned up a bunch. Here are a few that caught our eye. (Feel free to shop around for copies available from other sellers.) • “Sustainable Innovations in Food Packaging” (first edition!): According to book’s description, “This book presents eco-friendly packaging strategies to reduce food and plastic waste and address the end-of-life issues of persistent materials. It particularly focuses on the production of biodegradable microbial polymers and the use of by-products and waste from the agricultural and food industries.” • “Don’t Panic! I’m A Professional Packaging Engineer - 2022 Diary”: The Amazon description says, “A funny customized 2022 diary work planner for a busy Packaging Engineer employee and team member. Give this keepsake book to a colleague, friend, or family member, instead of a throw-away greeting card to show how much they are appreciated.” • “The Art and Science of Packaging: A Mini Encyclopedia”: This Kindle book on package design promises to be different. “This book is about all the lessons we’ve learned in over a decade of experience designing a wide variety of packages. But this is also about our peers, the designers, and strategists who create thoughtful packaging solutions with style, panache, and ingenuity in engineering.” • “Secrets to Unforgettable Package Design: How To Get Started With Product Packaging Design (New Edition): The Packaging And Branding”: Oooo, who doesn’t like secrets?! This looks at packaging from a marketer’s perspective: “A product’s packaging is more than simply decoration; it’s all about the customer experience. This is precisely why a designer should make use of the product’s packaging design as a marketing technique in and of itself. Learn how to build packaging that will make customers fall in love with your business by reading about packaging secrets.” • “The Evolution of Products & Packaging: How a Spec-First Approach is Revolutionizing the Way Companies Make Things”: This paperback or Kindle book tackles current issues like product proliferation and complex supply chains. “Over the course of [author Matthew] Wright’s own evolution from packaging executive, to business owner and software startup founder, the answer to this complexity seemed simple: to keep up, the professionals would need to embrace data to make better, smarter, more sustainable products and packaging. …You’ll recognize stories of packaging and product failures, the common pitfalls organizations slip into when it comes to managing their most important data, and a glimpse into the future of how data can drive the answers to some of our most pressing supply chain challenges.” • “Tetra Pak: The Inside Story”: Peek behind the curtain at the world’s largest food and beverage packaging company. “This is a book about a ubiquitous company that everyone on this planet has bought something from them, not just once, but on average 25 times a year. …The rise and fall of Tetra Pak are told by ex-Tetra Pak executives. The author was once a Tetra Paker and from interviews of some forty ex-Tetra Pakers, this book spills the beans of what goes on in this incredible company.” • While not packaging-related, my recommendation for a thoughtful, feel-good book that rewards the reader at the end: “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles. It’s so easy to create your own message on a T-shirt! If only there were some clever sayings, like “You know you’re a packaging engineer if…” Turns out there are! Borrow one of these phrases your peers shared in this or this Packaging Digest slideshow. My favorites are “You do impromptu burst tests in the grocery store” or “You can properly pronounce organoleptics and polyethylene terephthalate.” Grab an empty package and say to yourself, “What can I make out of this?!” Or let the creative designers at upcycling company TerraCycle figure that out for you. From the company’s recent press release: “Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans throw away 25% more trash than any other time of year — amounting to nearly 25 million tons of excess waste each year. This holiday season, international recycling leader TerraCycle is providing consumers the option to buy better with the launch of the TerraCycle Made collection, a small selection of useful products created from recycled and recyclable materials all sourced from various TerraCycle recycling programs.”

Reimagine this Holiday Season with TerraCycle

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans throw away 25% more trash than any other time of year – amounting to nearly 25 million tons of excess waste each year. This holiday season, international recycling leader TerraCycle is providing consumers the option to buy better with the launch of the TerraCycle® Made collection, a small selection of useful products created from recycled and recyclable materials all sourced from various TerraCycle recycling programs.   Specializes in recycling the unrecyclable, from cosmetics empties, to cigarette butts, to products and packaging from well-known household brands, TerraCycle has reimagined the waste collected in its over 300 recycling programs by the TerraCycle community into new, everyday items consumers can feel good about purchasing. The TerraCycle® Made collection includes:  
  • Wireless Charger: 100% recycled content including materials collected through TerraCycle recycling programs.
  • Upcycled Coin Pouch, Travel Case, Tablet Case, and Tote: All made in the US from retired USPS mailbags. These products are officially licensed by the © United States Postal Service. (95% Upcycled material)
  • Stackable Organizers, Compost Bin, Divided trash/recycling bin, and other assorted household goods: All made from recycled content including materials collected through TerraCycle recycling programs.
  “Making products responsibly and sustainably means reevaluating the way we think about waste,” says Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle. “At TerraCycle, we believe strongly in reusing, repairing, and recycling what we can and doing our best to buy less whenever possible. The TerraCycle® Made collection is the result of many decisions and actions at every step along the way, reaffirming our mission of Eliminating the Idea of Waste.”   Every purchase from the TerraCycle® Made collection reduces the reliance on virgin materials extracted from the planet while creating long-lasting, essential products, to stand up to years of use in the home. By making new items from the materials collected by the TerraCycle community, this valuable resource never goes to waste. The TerraCycle® Made collection has a free, built-in recycling program to make sure each purchase will never end up in the trash. The recycled-content products are made to last but at the end of their useful life, they can be sent back and recycled again through TerraCycle.  
For more information, visit http://terracyclemade.com/
 

Green Your Holiday Décor With Upcycled Ornaments

By Patti Roth Purchasing a fresh pack of pretty ornaments to adorn your holiday tree is indeed enticing. Before you reach for your wallet, wait. Perhaps you want to embark on a different approach for bedazzling your branches. From delightful homemade baubles to elaborate works of art, upcycled materials present an opportunity for a wide range of festive ornaments. Whether you’re a DIYer or you’d rather let professional artists do the heavy lifting, upcycled drink pouches, stray puzzle pieces, cans, and other materials offer unique, interesting designs for holiday ornaments. Plus, there are other perks:
  • There’s an endless source of supplies — often free.
  • Making ornaments is a fun DIY holiday activity for kids and adults.
  • Repurposing instead of purchasing reduces waste.
  • The purchase of upcycled ornaments supports planet-friendly artisans and entrepreneurs.
  • Upcycled ornaments make intriguing and unique presents.
  • No excess packaging or shipping is required.

Upcycled can ornament created by ZipperFishUSA artisans

DIY Upcycled Ornaments

Get Crafty With Recyclables

Pick through your pile of recyclables. Sort through your junk drawer. Allow your imagination to fly. If you prefer simple projects, slice an empty food box into rounds or other fun shapes. Or retrieve excess jar lids and round plastic tops from empty oatmeal packaging. Paint your own design. Even easier, squirt a few dabs onto your surface — such as the plastic oatmeal lid in the picture below — and swirl with your fingertip.

 Finger-painted plastic lid ornament. Photo: Patti Roth

If you prefer to skip paint, grab your glue. Decorate lids or paper shapes with favorite photos. Or devise a design with leftover wrapping paper scraps. Or make mosaics from bits of junk mail.

DIY Upcycled Ornament Ideas From TerraCycle

For other DIY ideas, TerraCycle features instructions on its website for upcycled ornaments using toothpaste tubes and drink pouches. TerraCycle is a firm that focuses on recycling waste that is not usually suitable for traditional recycling platforms. If you prefer to skip paint, grab your glue. Decorate lids or paper shapes with favorite photos. Or devise a design with leftover wrapping paper scraps. Or make mosaics from bits of junk mail.

DIY Upcycled Ornament Ideas From TerraCycle

For other DIY ideas, TerraCycle features instructions on its website for upcycled ornaments using toothpaste tubes and drink pouches. TerraCycle is a firm that focuses on recycling waste that is not usually suitable for traditional recycling platforms.

Toothpaste Tube Ornaments

Upcycled toothpaste tube ornament. Source:

Empty toothpaste tubes — with residue removed — are formed into airy spheres that serve as individual ornaments on their own, or stacked in pairs. Instructions from TerraCycle involve flattening the tube and slicing six rings ¼-inch wide rings. Using a needle, poke two holes at opposite ends of the ring. Align the holes and attach the rings with thread. Add beads to enhance the design.

Drink Pouch Ornaments

Upcycled drink pouch ornament. Source: TerraCycle

DIY instructions for shiny ornaments formed with a drink pouch require scissors, a ruler, and tape. The design features a dozen ½-inch-wide strips woven and looped, with the straw hole strategically placed for tying on a thin length of ribbon.

More DIY Ideas From Instructables

Upcycled Ornaments Created by Artists & Artisans

Guitar Strings

Wire ball ornaments made from upcycled guitar strings. Source: Fox Designs Jewelry

Jeanna Fox of Fox Designs Jewelry wraps upcycled guitar strings into wire-ball ornaments. “Each unique one is made from a set of previously played guitar strings that have been saved from the landfill,” according to Fox Designs Jewelry Etsy page. “They are not recyclable through traditional methods because they are made of mixed metals.” Hues for guitar string ornaments include silver from electric guitars and rose gold from acoustic instruments. “I get strings from a few independent music stores near me,” Jeanna Fox says. “They save me the strings when they do repair work.”

Vodka Bottles

Upcycled vodka bottle ornament. Source: Bunzow Glass

Bunzow Glass repurposes vodka empties and other bottles into charming ornaments. “Some of them are cut directly from the bottoms of bottles and some of them are cut from bottle necks and tumbled in a rock tumbler,” according to information from Luke and Nikki Bunzow. “We love working with upcycled glass because the possibilities are endless,” the Bunzows said. “We encourage several of the local bars and restaurants to save their glass bottles for us rather than tossing them out.”

Aluminum Drink Empties

Upcycled beverage can “origami” ornament. Source: Ben Goraj,

Ben Goraj hand folds beverage cans, creating metal “origami” ornaments. He adores upcycling what others regard as trash, even if occasional wounds occur when working with sharp edges. “I form my ornaments by hand with a few simple hand tools. I cut the cans down with razor blades and I fold the thickly layered sections with pliers, but otherwise, it’s all by hand,” he says.

Shipping Pallet Wood

Upcycled shipping pallet ornament. Source:

Snowcapped peaks glisten on Resplendid’s upcycled wooden ornaments sliced from recycled pallet wood. “I think it’s important to divert materials from the waste stream whenever possible,” says Resplendid artist Susan Mattson. “ I really enjoy revealing the beauty of humble pallet wood scraps … The distinct smells of the different wood species always make me smile.” Susan applies thin sheets of gold and other metals on the peaks. “I love how the gleam of the precious metals contrasts with the rustic salvaged wood,” she says.

More Artisan Designs

Check out these interesting upcycled artisan ornament designs made from various upcycled materials. Feature image courtesy of cottonbro, Pexels