An interview with Albe Zakes, the 25 year-old Global VP, Media at TerraCycle, Inc., the world's leading 'upcycling' company, which converts waste materials into eco-friendly, affordable products available at major retailers worldwide.

The 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) is no longer simply a mantra for environmental activists, it’s a ticket to saving you money while you consider the planet. The 3Rs ask you to buy less, reuse more, and recycle products at the end of their useful life-wonderful guiding principles for reducing our environmental footprint and bringing our lifestyles into balance with nature. But in practice, how many of us are really willing to cut back on the stuff we want to own, to reuse what we’d like to throw out, and to recycle when doing so is often incredibly inconvenient?

TerraCycle, another green innovator, is on pace to redefine much of America’s relationship with trash. The company that began with its signature Plant Food-made from worm poop, packaged in empty Pepsi bottles and sold at the likes of Home Depot and Wal-Mart-has evolved into an innovation powerhouse that continually introduces new products made entirely from waste. Take the E-Water Trash Cans and Recycling Bins available at OfficeMax for $10.99 each and made from crushed computers and fax machines (that would otherwise end up in a landfill). Or the rain barrels and composters made from Kendall-Jackson oak wine barrels that sell for $99 each at Sam’s Club. They’re both prime examples of a company that sees opportunity where others see garbage. In so doing, TerraCycle helps us make attractive choices that are mindful of the planet and our wallets.

Terracycle is a company that collects and "upcycles" different kinds of waste packaging and turns that waste into new consumer products. Repurposed products include pencil cases made from Oreo cookie wrappers, kites from Skittles packages, backpacks from Capri Sun drinks pouches and natural plant fertilizer made from worm excrement that is packaged in empty soda bottles. These upcycled products are available for sale in several large national chain stores including Home Depot, Walmart and Wholefoods Markets. So far, Terracycle has collected over 1.5 billion tons of waste. In Lays potato chip packets alone, over two million tons of waste has been diverted from landfills.

Albe Zakes is constantly surrounded by a shrine to garbage. The desks in his office are made from old doors, the walls from soda bottles, and the front showroom covered in recycled Astroturf. The desk dividers are made from vinyl records, and graffiti covers every wall. But considering his job, the workplace makes sense: he’s in charge of media relations for TerraCycle Inc., which sells consumer products made from recycled waste. The company launched in 2001, selling worm poop as fertilizer to retailers like Home Depot and Wal-Mart. Now, TerraCycle recycles items like Frito-Lay chip bags, Clif Bar wrappers, and Capri Sun pouches to create tote bags, iPhone cases, and MP3 speakers.

Recycling is a positive action that needs to become more prevalent. However, people should not forget that it is last on the list (reduce, reuse, recycle) for a reason. Since recycling is a process that converts products made from specific materials back into their raw form to be used in the production of new goods, it is only feasible in certain cases. Unfortunately, it is often cheaper (in money and energy) to create new items from scratch. Therefore, reducing the generation of waste and reusing old merchandise for different purposes are both vital tools needed for sustainable living. Upcycling is a combination of the two. Unlike recycling, upcycling leverages the basic material of an object and its physical form. For instance, melting down a bag of chips (after eating the chips, of course) and using the plastic toward the generation of a toilet seat is a form of recycling. This sort of process usually produces downcycled material, meaning it is of lesser quality. In contrast, using the bag as a waterproof wallet (snack size) or purse (family size) would be considered upcycling. Upcycling is an essential combatant against the ever-growing amount of waste in the world, and is most effective through mass organization. Enter, TerraCycle. TerraCycle, headquartered in Trenton, N.J. but active on at least three continents, has established a collection program for traditionally non-recyclable waste that can be converted into a variety of consumer products available for internet purchase or at major retailers such as Home Depot and Whole Foods. The aim of the company is to eliminate the concept of waste by facilitating a status quo of reuse. Any school, community organization or company can sign up online, start collecting specific items (see Brigades), mail them in for free and earn cash or points. For some environmentalists, the idea of partnering with Walmart and other large retailers may be hard to swallow. When asked of any such criticisms, David Smith of Terracycle echoed the company's CEO in his response. The companies we work with are creating sustainable value in ways never before considered, creating greater brand awareness while keeping their products out of landfills. Our mission is to eliminate waste. Working with large producers is the most effective way to do this. Advertisement And their partnerships have proven to be valuable. Currently, one of TerraCycle's powerfully beneficial strategies is taking place in school cafeterias. This past year lunchtime waste was reduced at Lawrence Intermediate School (LIS) in New Jersey through the collection of Capri Sun drink pouches and Frito-Lay chip bags. The LIS recycling campaign – run by a group of sixth-graders – raised over 6000 points, $60 of which was put toward sustaining the program. The remainder was used to provide needy families with clean drinking water, food and school supplies. Similar efforts are now proudly under way in the bay area, at such locations as the Clarendon School, Cornerstone Academy and Glen Park School. These programs not only provide environmental and social benefits, but also serve to educate children on the importance of their future role as stewards of the planet. You can practice upcycling without being as resourceful as MacGyver, extremely creative, or a lover of second-hand shopping. Rather (or in addition), take advantage of the fact that you, or someone you know, has kids. Collection brigades can be facilitated by a school faculty member, classrooms, or an entire grade. Spread the word about TerraCycle's partnership with schools and get involved. Your local school can join at any time, but there are a number of summer incentives for getting started immediately.

Maxwell Elementary School pupils are saving the world. And they recently received an award for their efforts. Lynn Davidson/McDuffie Mirror TerraCycle Inc. named the school among the Top 100 in the nation for recycling drink pouches. Lauren Taylor, of TerraCycle, said Maxwell Elementary was ranked because it had collected 44,517 drink pouches by October. "Obviously, the children there are passionate about recycling and aware of what steps they can take to protect the environment," Ms. Taylor said. "It's great to see them taking part in such a large-scale project." A certificate in a frame made from shredded drink pouches was sent to the school and presented during a faculty meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Maxwell Elementary was one of only four elementary schools in Georgia to receive the recognition, according to Ms. Taylor. TerraCycle provides free waste-collection programs for hard-to-recycle materials. The company transforms the waste into affordable green products, according to its Web site. The company recently reached a milestone. It has collected 50 million drink pouches -- the equivalent to 20 school buses in weight, 480 football fields in length, enough to stretch across the Grand Canyon nine times if laid side-by-side. "So, the children at Maxwell Elementary helped because the 44,000 they collected contributed to that," Ms. Taylor said. TerraCycle collects drink pouches, soda bottles, chip bags, candy and gum wrappers, zip-close bags, cheese wrappers, coffee containers and Lunchable containers and turns them into tote bags, lunch bags, book bags, coolers, clipboards, picture frames, bottles, fences and other items, which are sold at Target, Kmart, Walmart, The Home Depot and via its Web site, www.terracycleshop.com.

Named the No 1. CEO under thirty by Inc. magazine in 2006 for his innovative approach to fertilizer and recycled goods, in the two years that followed (2007-2009) Tom Szaky went on to write about 30 blogitles for Inc. and a book that surely has more than 30 pages – Revolution in a Bottle. Now it’s 2011 and he’s still under 30 but he’s worth at least 30 times 30 more than he was at the start of 2006. Tom, a Princeton drop-out, is a man on a mission to run a fully sustainable company. While he was still in his dorm room he was dreaming up TerraCycle, one of the fastest growing private companies named by Inc. magazine in 2009.

Named the No 1. CEO under thirty by Inc. magazine in 2006 for his innovative approach to fertilizer and recycled goods, in the two years that followed (2007-2009) Tom Szaky went on to write about 30 blogitles for Inc. and a book that surely has more than 30 pages – Revolution in a Bottle. Now it’s 2011 and he’s still under 30 but he’s worth at least 30 times 30 more than he was at the start of 2006. Tom, a Princeton drop-out, is a man on a mission to run a fully sustainable company. While he was still in his dorm room he was dreaming up TerraCycle, one of the fastest growing private companies named by Inc. magazine in 2009.

Named the No 1. CEO under thirty by Inc. magazine in 2006 for his innovative approach to fertilizer and recycled goods, in the two years that followed (2007-2009) Tom Szaky went on to write about 30 blogitles for Inc. and a book that surely has more than 30 pages – Revolution in a Bottle. Now it’s 2011 and he’s still under 30 but he’s worth at least 30 times 30 more than he was at the start of 2006. Tom, a Princeton drop-out, is a man on a mission to run a fully sustainable company. While he was still in his dorm room he was dreaming up TerraCycle, one of the fastest growing private companies named by Inc. magazine in 2