Building the Company

  Investors were initially wary, most likely due to the age of the founders. However, TerraCycle, Inc., headquartered in Trenton, NJ, now has 15 products and expects its 2006 revenue to total $1.5 million. Today, in addition to manufacturing products made entirely from waste, TerraCycle, Inc. also packages all of its products in waste. The company re-uses (not recycles) soda bottles to package the organic plant food. “Bottle Brigades” are formed at collection centers, and TerraCycle, Inc. offers them $0.05 for every bottle. In addition, bottles are collected at fundraisers and at recycling centers around the country. The empty soda bottles, 1,265,309 of which have been reused to date. are simply washed and decorated with a eco-friendly TerraCycle, Inc. label.

TerraCycle Inc.'s products are not innovative simply because they are ecologically harmless but because they both benefit the environment and appeal to consumers. Better than minimizing waste, TerraCycle, Inc. uses waste as a raw material. And, better than maintaining natural capital, it renews natural capital by being a proven effective plant food product. The start-up demonstrates the capacity of companies to be both financially successful and ecologically and socially responsible.

TerraCycle at Bioneers in Atlanta

A representative from TerraCycle, Inc. appeared at this year's Bioneer's conference, sponsored by Inspiring Futures of Atlanta, to discuss the company's mission to create an environmentally innovative and responsible organization. TerraCycle, Inc. products, including organic plant food, Water-Less gel which extends the period of time requiring less water, and ProFusion fertilizer, can be found on the shelves at many Whole Foods, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, CVS and Ace Hardware stores.