Started in 2001 by Tom Szaky while he was a first year at Princeton University, TerraCycle is now one of the “fastest-growing green companies in the world”. This is an easy fact to believe once you learn what they do: TerraCycle transforms hard-to-recycle or non-recyclable objects that normally get incinerated into awesome repurposed items. They have over 40 different collection Brigades, or categories of materials that they collect, ranging from candy wrappers to school supplies to old jewelry. From this, they produce a vast variety of unique and awesome products with an eclectic and eco-friendly flair! Some examples of TerraCycle products include totes bags and backpacks; notebooks, pencil boxes, binders, and other school supplies; “eco-speakers” and laptop cases; trashcans, picture frames, window boxes, and even kites! Check out their full product index here.
JHU has been a participant in the Writing Utensil TerraCycle Brigade since 2010 and joined four additional Brigades in 2012 (follow each link for additional information about accepted materials):
Writing Utensil Brigade: highlighters, pens, mechanical pencils, markers, permanent markers. Include caps for all!
Personal Care and Beauty Brigade: cosmetics packaging, hair care packaging, skin care packaging
Colgate Oral Care Brigade: toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, toothbrush and toothpaste outer packaging, floss containers
Candy Wrapper Brigade: individual candy wrappers, family-size candy bags, multipack candy bags
Energy Bar Wrapper Brigade: energy/granola bar wrappers
Another awesome facet of the TerraCycle program is that for each donation they receive, they credit the collection location with TerraCycle points. Once enough points are earned by a location, like JHU, these points can be exchanged for charitable gifts or a monetary donation for a non-profit organization or school that the collection locator chooses. The points our campus collects are donated to Baltimore Parks and Recreation. Each point is equivalent to $.01, so let’s get collecting to give back to this great organization!
Where are the collection locations?
Lobbies of all JHU housing buildings except Bradford. The collection bins are out and labeled TerraCycle.
Q-Level in MSE. Nestled next to the Busch Bin system by the tables and chairs on Q-level, this spot collects for the candy wrapper and energy wrapper brigade only.
Printing rooms in the BLC and MSE M-Level. These spots collect old writing utensils only.
Various office locations. A growing number of offices on campus are putting out their own collection bins (awesome!). We encourage all departments to start their own TerraCycle collection. When your stash gets full, simply campus mail them to: Homewood Recycling, Wyman 3, Attn: Leana Houser. If you would to start a collection brigade contact Leana at [email protected].
 Happy TerraCycling and as always, think before you toss!
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