Tom Szaky’s company, TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/> , collects post-consumer waste, such as Carpi Sun pouches and Oreo cookie wrappers, and turns them into entirely new products such as backpacks and pencil cases.  While Szaky’s “upcycling” business has an authentic environmental aura, it’s his partnerships with big companies like Kraft and Nabisco that make the business work.  Those large packaged goods companies sponsor the collection brigades that provide TerraCycle with used packaging. It’s an unlikely alliance, but one that gives the big companies a “green” image, while providing TerraCycle with low cost or free raw materials.

The Sandy Valley High School Science Club is embarking on a recycling project called the "TerraCycle Recycling Brigade." The science club will collect used and empty Carpri-Sun pouches, Elmers Glue containers (both sticks and bottles), Plastic Baggies (like Ziploc), Cookie Wrappers (like Nabisco, Grandma's and Oreo's) and old cell phones. All items donated will be counted and turned into the TerraCycle company, who will in turn pay the school for every item sent in. This helps divert trash from the landfill and earns for a SV Science Club Scholarship and field-trips.

“Send us your trash – we’ll make it into cool products.” That's the simple premise and promise of New Jersey-based startup TerraCycle, a green recycler founded by two former Princeton University classmates who dreamed up the idea in 2001 for a business plan contest. Now full-time "eco-capitalists," they're making good business from trash by partnering with brands to create recycling campaigns for their products, and a halo effect for their affiliates.

TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based startup that upcycles trash into useful everyday items, has popped up on our radar many times over the past year. Because really, how can you not pay attention to a company that turns Frito Lay chip bags into speakers <http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/terracycle-upcycles-frito-lay-bags-tasty-speakers>  and makes kites out of Oreo packaging? Apparently, we aren’t the only ones with an eye on TerraCycle. The company’s latest antics will be available for a national audience beginning tonight, when Season 2 of Garbage Moguls premieres on the National Geographic Channel.

Terracycle, a New Jersey-based startup that upcycles trash into useful everyday items, has popped up on our radar many times over the past year. Because really, how can you not pay attention to a company that turns Frito Lay chip bags into speakers <http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/terracycle-upcycles-frito-lay-bags-tasty-speakers>  and makes kites out of Oreo packaging? Apparently, we aren’t the only ones with an eye on Terracycle. The company’s latest antics will be available for a national audience beginning tonight, when Season 2 of Garbage Moguls premieres on the National Geographic Channel.

Terracycle, a New Jersey-based startup that upcycles trash into useful everyday items, has popped up on our radar many times over the past year. Because really, how can you not pay attention to a company that turns Frito Lay chip bags into speakers <http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/terracycle-upcycles-frito-lay-bags-tasty-speakers>  and makes kites out of Oreo packaging? Apparently, we aren’t the only ones with an eye on Terracycle. The company’s latest antics will be available for a national audience beginning tonight, when Season 2 of Garbage Moguls premieres on the National Geographic Channel.

TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based startup that upcycles trash into useful everyday items, has popped up on our radar many times over the past year. Because really, how can you not pay attention to a company that turns Frito Lay chip bags into speakers <http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/terracycle-upcycles-frito-lay-bags-tasty-speakers>  and makes kites out of Oreo packaging? Apparently, we aren't the only ones with an eye on TerraCycle. The company's latest antics will be available for a national audience beginning tonight, when Season 2 of Garbage Moguls premieres on the National Geographic Channel.

TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based startup that upcycles trash into useful everyday items, has popped up on our radar many times over the past year. Because really, how can you not pay attention to a company that turns Frito Lay chip bags into speakers  and makes kites out of Oreo packaging? Apparently, we aren't the only ones with an eye on TerraCycle. The company's latest antics will be available for a national audience beginning tonight, when Season 2 of Garbage Moguls premieres on the National Geographic Channel.

If you happened to tune into the National Geographic Channel last evening between 8-11 pm, then you would have witnessed what many environmentally friendly individuals are calling the coolest, most innovative company to sprout up in a long time.  The company, Terracycle, is a recycling company with a twist.

If you happened to tune into the National Geographic Channel last evening between 8-11 pm, then you would have witnessed what many environmentally friendly individuals are calling the coolest, most innovative company to sprout up in a long time. The company, Terracycle, is a recycling company with a twist. TerraCycle, which was founded back in 2001 by a 19 year old Princeton University student named Tom Szaky works wonders with garbage. The company collects certain products such as potato chip bags, juice packs, gum packages, old cell phones, etc, and turns them into amazing products like recycling bins, coolers, fences, cork boards and more. They actually donate money to charity for people like you and I to send them certain pieces of trash. They even pay for the shipping and handling. Thus far they have collected an estimated 1.8 billion units of trash from over 10 million individuals, and have donated over $1.2 million to charities.