When consumers sign up for the pilot–either through a new platform called Loop or through Kroger or Walgreens (you can also add your name to the wait list if you live elsewhere)–the products will arrive at their house in a reusable shipping tote, , and then someone can schedule a pickup to send the packaging back to be sterilized and reused. In theory, it’s not much more difficult than throwing out single-use packaging. Despite the extra shipping, Terracycle, a recycling company that is one of the partners in the project, has calculated that the carbon footprint of the process will be far less than that of typical packages. Because the products involved in the pilot are large brands, the companies testing the idea are hoping to reach a larger audience than some niche refillable concepts already on the market.

Herbal Essences hair care users nationwide can mail empty bottles to Trenton-based recycler TerraCycle for free through a new program.

But Tom Szaky, the CEO and founder of TerraCycle, sees waste differently. His first legendary product was a worm-poop fertilizer for plant food, packaged in used beverage bottles. But that was just the beginning for Szaky. He realized that to become truly legendary, he needed to consider a bigger problem: how humans think about waste.

If you were hoping to place an order from Loop on its opening business day, good luck. The circular shopping platform launches in the New York region today, Tuesday, May 21, and there are only a few thousand U.S. memberships available for the first U.S. round of orders — but about 60,000 hopefuls on the global waitlist. To learn more about the milkman-inspired platform, Green Matters spoke with Loop's VP of Global Business Development, Tony Rossi.

You don’t have to shop exclusively at a thrift store to be eco-friendly. Research recycled products and support eco-friendly companies that are striving to create a more sustainable, less wasteful world. Some of the biggest names to check out include Green Toy’s, Allbirds and Terracycle.

Alternative: Try using a safety razor, or go back to the even more vintage (and virtually waste-free) straight-razor shave. The up-front costs are higher, but they’ll end up paying for themselves fairly quickly. Or at the very least, find a place that accepts razors for recycling — such as TerraCycle‘s program, which turns razors into products, including picnic tables and park benches.

Join Subaru and show your love for the earth by recycling hard-to-recycle materials like snack wrappers and coffee cups at the TerraCycle Bins in Colorado Subaru Locations. Find out more at www.TerraCycle.com/Subaru.

Once collected, the waste is broken down and separated by material. Plastics are cleaned and pelletized, paper based waste and organic waste (such as coffee grounds) are composted and metals are melted down. Click here to learn more about TerraCycle's recycling process.

Procter & Gamble-owned Herbal Essences has teamed up with TerraCycle to create recyclable shampoo and conditioner bottles made of 25 percent beach plastic in celebration of World Water Day.

Gillette has partnered with international recycling leader TerraCycle to launch the US’ first national recycling program for disposable razors, blade cartridge units and their packaging.