There's no such thing as garbage at this company, which aims to revolutionize the recycling industry. New Jersey-based TerraCycle's mission is to “eliminate the idea of waste” and it's been a profitable enterprise. The company expects about $20 million in revenue this year, according to founder Tom Szaky.

As students headed back to class this fall in dozens of area schools, they were reminded to think twice before dumping the remains of their school lunch in the trash. The schools — more than 50 of them in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties — are partnering with TerraCycle, a national “upcycling” and recycling company which comes up with creative ways to reuse non-recyclable or hard to recycle waste. Area schools, including the Holyoke Community Charter School, St. Stanislaus School in Chicopee, Benjamin J. Phelps School in Agawam, SABIS International Charter School in Springfield, and the John R. Fausey Elementary PTO in West Springfield, have signed on with TerraCycle to recycle certain products in their schools. Under the program, which is also available to organizations, businesses and families, the specified waste is collected and shipped off regularly to TerraCycle at no cost to the collectors. From there, it is recycled or upcycled into new products, such as juice pouch tote bags.