Meet-up #3 with Tom Szaky, the founder of TerraCycle This meet-up was organized by the U.S. Embassy for its Alumni and for some reason I managed to make it this time. There are always a lot of interesting people there and since everyone is rowing in the same boat having returned from the States after working or studying there it is nice to see them from time to time. Just like the previous night’s protagonist, little did I know about the guy. I knew he was Hungarian, he was young and a CEO. I thought he must know something and therefore the meeting was promisingly interesting. I googled again. I wanted to know who he was and what his business was and how did he become so important to have a meeting organized for him. Well, he is all over Google! He is 29, blogs for New York Times and he runs a company now present in 18 countries, he makes money out of trash and he is kind of good-looking. And a genius! Of course I was late from the meeting – as usual (I should stop being late!). I got lucky and they only started after I got there. Tom founded TerraCycle as a freshman in uni where he made fertilizer out of wormpoop…and wrapped it in used sodabottles…and sold 100,000 of it to Wal-Mart. He realized trash was not entirely waste and it can be reused, recycled or upcycled meaning that with different technology new products can be made out of it so the level of the ever-growing trash can be reduced or even eliminated. His business is about collecting big corporates’ trash (for which he gets paid by the corporate) and then resells it to another company as raw material for which TerraCycle also gets paid. Smart! They collect pens, candy wrappers, juice pouches, bottles and – here comes the mind blower – used chewing gum and used diapers. He says he started this because he saw a large gap in the market and now he is so successful cause he doesn’t have an adequate competitor. He thinks it is because people don’t find trash “sexy”. I think environmental consciousness IS sexy! He also adds that mostly women and children are open to such ideas, men only buy hybrid cars because of the cool factor. Is it true? I was curious if he was collecting waste selectively at home as well but he said the company is not yet set up for private trash. Would be nice though! Tom said that TerraCycle’s mission is to eliminate trash for once and for all. Daring goal and a very respectable one. On the other hand I have one concern because in some respect I feel like that this activity legitimates the current production of stuff and wrappers instead of eliminating them. I still appreciate what TerraCycle is doing and at least they are doing something, looking for solutions is far more than most other companies are doing and I dig that.

Robert Fogarty started Dear World to bring attention to the world's most tragic causes. But can he turn it into a scalable business? The Experts Weigh In Tom Szaky, Founder TerraCycle Trenton, NJ They are beautiful photos, but this kind of feels like a trend, and trends come and go. How will he be able to keep up interest for people writing on their hands? It behooves him to assume that he is going to trend out in a few years, so he should look at the kernel in his work that has lasting power, and that’s the idea behind the photographs. Maybe his play is that he turns this into a cause-related advertising agency, and the photographs are just one of his platforms. Then he should look at what other modules fit into that mission.

I was contacted by Stephanie of TerraCycle who thought my readers would be interested in this program and I have to agree. Below is the text of a press release that provides all the information: Green AND Clean: TerraCycle and Partner Brands Make Green Cleaners Recyclable TRENTON, N.J., October 19, 2011 – Non-recyclable packaging is a major obstacle in creating a truly responsible line of soaps and cleaners for moms who want a safe environment inside their homes and out. Three leading eco-responsible brands, TerraCycle, Dropps, and Method are making serious headway by offering completely eco-friendly products with natural, non-toxic ingredients and newly recyclable packaging. Now families can use natural cleaners, reduce their waste production and earn money for their community at the same time!

(6 of 16) 6. Snack Wrapper Eco-Boombox This is a desktop toy your coworkers will salivate for. Frito Lay joined forces with TerraCycle to give their snack packaging a second life, and the Eco-Boombox was born. It’s made with 80% recycled packaging materials (some sent in from consumers themselves) and has a 3.5mm universal plug so you can play music from your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, laptop, or computer. This gives new meaning to the term "rapper." The Eco-Boombox is priced at $19. [Link] (5 of 16) 5. TerraCycle Crushed Electronics Trash Can TerraCycle is a company on a mission to reduce the estimated 2.5 million tons of electronic waste that ends up in our landfills every year. They create a variety of products out of crushed and remolded computers, fax machines and other office equipment. These 11 inch trashcans painted in day-glo designs by inner city artists in Trenton, N.J. are a sturdy and groovy addition to any office. Oh, and the irony of a trashcan made out of trash isn’t lost on us. Price: $10. [Link]

The school partnered with TerraCycle to collect electronics, beauty products and even candy wrappers, and four green drop-off totes have been set up in the school's lobby for those items. Old tech gadgets have become a hot recycling item as technology quickly evolves, taking up space in landfills and people's homes. While the program doesn't accept all electronics, it does take keyboards, mice, cell phones, laptops and mp3 players.

The company TerraCycle even pays the school for every pound of difficult-to-recycle items, such as markers, glue sticks and drink pouches. “This program looks to reinforce the idea of recycling on the children,” said Tuttle. “When I was in school, recycling was looked at as extreme and something only tree huggers did,” said Davis. “Now it should be a way of life and our social responsibility to recycle because we cannot keep going at the pace that we are going. My little acorn has become the mighty oak.”

Every Friday, Linda Roberts' fifth graders look forward to helping the environment and giving back to their community. Roberts, a special education teacher at Arrowhead Elementary School, said her students look forward every week to cleaning and sorting empty Capri Sun juice pouches as part of a national recycling program. The program encourages students to collect non-recyclable trash and send it to New Jersey-based company TerraCycle, which then uses the trash - like Capri Sun pouches - to make eco-friendly products like backpacks, flower pots and pencil cases, Senior Publicist Megan Yarnall said.

Here in the elementary school we participate in the TerraCycle waste collection program. By participating in the program, we earn money for our school, which we put towards recycling and other green initiatives.Today I got exciting news that we were one of the winners for October's Leap Info Fall Points Giveaway! During October and November, TerraCycle is giving away 5,000 additional TerraCycle points to five winning locations each month. 5,000 points equals $50 dollars for our school. Every time we sent in a shipment of collected materials to TerraCycle during these months, we earned an entry in the contest.

• Share the vision. Trenton, N.J.-based TerraCycle makes new products out of discarded chip bags, drink boxes, pens or anything else that can't usually be recycled. The company doesn't use guilt to push consumers into giving. Inspiration goes further. Fun is key too, says Albe Zakes, the company's global vice president of media relations. His firm invites folks who collect goods to pick a charity that TerraCycle will pay in exchange for their efforts. "We run free collection programs that pay schools and nonprofits 2 cents for every piece of nonrecyclable packaging or used consumer good they collect," Zakes said. "We donated $2 million this year, and that number will double in 2012." TerraCycle partners with such firms as Frito-Lay, Target and Whole Foods to recycle waste and sell goods made from wrappers, bags and drink pouches.