Terracycle

What Terracycle does

TerraCycle is a private waste management company founded by Tom Szaky in 2001 (incorporated 2003) and headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey. The company operates national recycling programs in over 18 countries, serving 40,000+ clients and 600+ brand partners, and engaging 90+ million individual collectors ("TerraCyclers"). Its core capability is processing hard-to-recycle waste streams — including cigarette butts, beauty products, flexible plastics, e-waste, textiles, and hazardous materials — using proprietary material recovery processes combining manual sortation, sink/float separation, optical (infrared) separation, air density separation, and magnetic separation. TerraCycle legally guarantees recycling of all accepted waste, with annual third-party audits by Bureau Veritas and a verified 98.3% recycling rate for compliant waste.

TerraCycle monetizes through multiple streams: Enterprise recycling programs (multi-year, contract-based, fully brand-sponsored), TerraCycle On-Demand (self-serve program builder at $99/month with configurable subsidy levels), Zero Waste Box and Bag sales, TerraCycle Made consumer products (sold via Walmart and shop.terracycle.com), TerraCycle Commercial regulated waste services, recycled material sales, and the Loop global reuse platform. Customer segments span brand owners/manufacturers (the largest segment), retailers (Nordstrom, Walmart, Sephora, Carrefour), schools, facilities, municipalities, event organizers, and individual consumers. The regulated waste commercial division, expanded through acquisitions of Air Cycle Corporation, Complete Recycling Solutions, North Coast Services (2024, $5.5M), and NLR Inc. (2026), provides services for hazardous, universal, and regulated waste including lamps, batteries, and e-waste. The Loop reuse platform partners with 40+ brands including Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, and Unilever, offering products in reusable packaging at major retailers globally.

The company has maintained over ten consecutive years of profitability. TerraCycle US Inc. reported $47.6M net revenue for FY2025 (up 93% from $24.7M in 2020) with 46.4% gross margins and $4.1M operating income. Capital structure includes a $5M Regulation CF crowdfunding raise in 2025 (closed in under 60 days) and a SEC-qualified $75M Regulation A offering in April 2026, with proceeds primarily earmarked for strategic acquisitions. The company has explicitly explored a potential future IPO.

Name

Terracycle

Legal name

TerraCycle Inc.

Website

https://terracycle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TerraCycle is a private waste management company that processes hard-to-recycle materials through brand-sponsored and self-serve recycling programs, serving 40,000+ clients including 600+ brand partners across 18+ countries with proprietary recycling technology and Bureau Veritas-audited supply chains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Management & Recycling Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Other Waste Collection (562119), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Film & Flexible Plastics Recycling (LDPE/LLDPE, Multilayer) (EUAIAKAE), Universal Waste Management (Batteries, Lamps, Mercury-Containing) (BPALAHAL), E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG), Recycling Transfer & Consolidation (Single-Stream, Dual-Stream, Source-Separated) (EUAIABAC), On-site Recycling Programs (Single-Stream, Source-Separated) (BPABALAB)

Keywords

• Hard-to-recycle waste
• Recycling programs
• Waste management solutions
• Circular economy services
• Reusable packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Trenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Enterprise Recycling Programs: Fully-customizable, contract-based recycling programs for brands and retailers where the brand partner pays 100% of the program cost. Includes dedicated account executive, strategy sessions, PR/marketing support, and regular reporting.
2. On-Demand Recycling Subscriptions: Self-serve recycling program builder at $99/month with optional recycling solution purchases. Brands can subsidize costs to make solutions free for consumers or share costs. No long-term contracts required.
3. Zero Waste Box/Bag Sales: Paid recycling solutions (boxes, bags, envelopes) purchased by individuals, businesses, and organizations to recycle hard-to-recycle waste. Price reflects production, transportation, sorting, cleaning, and processing costs.
4. TerraCycle Made Products: Consumer products made from recycled materials collected through TerraCycle programs, sold through the TerraCycle shop and major retailers like Walmart.
5. Regulated Waste Commercial Services: Services for facilities managing universal and hazardous waste including e-waste, lamps, batteries, aerosols, PPE, and solar panels through TerraCycle Commercial division.
6. Recycled Material Sales: Raw materials recovered from recycling (pellets, flakes, metal ingots, glass cullet) sold to manufacturing companies to produce end products.
7. TerraCycle Foundation Donations: The TerraCycle Foundation (501(c)(3) nonprofit) raises funds through product sales from its collection, with proceeds supporting river waste removal in Thailand and other heavily-polluted regions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

TerraCycle operates as an international recycling company that processes hard-to-recycle waste streams (cigarette butts, beauty products, flexible plastics, e-waste, textiles, hazardous waste) that municipal recycling cannot handle. It offers free brand-sponsored recycling programs, paid Zero Waste Boxes/Bags, a self-serve On-Demand program builder, fully-customizable Enterprise programs, regulated commercial waste services, the Loop reuse platform, and consumer products made from recycled materials.

Product overview

TerraCycle operates as a multi-platform recycling company offering a comprehensive suite of solutions for hard-to-recycle waste. The core offering consists of free brand-sponsored recycling programs and paid solutions including Zero Waste Boxes™ and Zero Waste Bags. The platform includes TerraCycle On-Demand (self-serve program builder at $99/month) and TerraCycle Enterprise (fully-customizable full-service programs). TerraCycle Made retails consumer products created from recycled materials, while Loop provides a global reuse platform for reusable packaging. The TerraCycle Commercial division handles regulated and hazardous waste, and TerraCycle Discovery offers health insights from product samples. Industry-specific solutions include Salon-cycle, Office-cycle, Science-cycle, Vet-cycle, Event-cycle, Fitness-cycle, and SpecsCycle. The TerraCycle Foundation (501(c)(3)) focuses on ocean plastic prevention through river cleanup initiatives. The TerraCycle Recycling Rewards program enables point-earning and charitable donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Loop: Global platform for reuse enabling brands and manufacturers to create refillable versions of conventional single-use products, sold at major retailers and returned to any participating store.
• TerraCycle Foundation
• Zero Waste Box
• Zero Waste Bag
• TerraCycle Made
• TerraCycle Enterprise
• TerraCycle On-Demand
• TerraCycle Discovery
• tiniestBiome

Products and services

• Zero Waste Box Paid mail-back recycling container allowing individuals and businesses to recycle hard-to-recycle trash not accepted by curbside services. Available in multiple sizes across numerous waste-stream categories.
• Zero Waste Bag Convenient mail-back recycling solution available in select countries for hard-to-recycle waste like plastic packaging, coffee capsules, shoes, and Styrofoam.
• Free Recycling Programs (Brigades)

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.3% recycling rate for compliant waste received
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NLR Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026TerraCycle Commercial acquired Connecticut-based NLR Inc., a universal regulated waste recycler founded in 1994, marking TerraCycle's fourth acquisition in the regulated waste space. NLR specializes in lamp processing, electronics, batteries, and mercury devices, extending TerraCycle's collection capacity across the Northeast.
• The Footwear CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026TerraCycle is one of three material processing partners (alongside FastFeetGrinded and SuperCircle) evaluating circular recovery approaches for 30,525 pounds of end-of-life footwear collected from 50 Goodwill Southern California locations. This is the first multi-brand-led take-back program in the US focused on footwear recycling at scale.
• Keep America BeautifulcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Keep America Beautiful partners with TerraCycle and Grand Teton Lodge Company on recycling pilot programs at national parks. The 2025 Grand Teton National Park pilot featured bear-resistant recycling stations and resulted in a 15% increase in recycled or composted waste and diversion of 3,400+ pounds of hard-to-recycle materials.
• North Coast ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024TerraCycle acquired North Coast Services, a New Hampshire-based company specializing in recycling universal waste including electronics and hazardous materials across New England. The $5.5 million acquisition expanded TerraCycle's US operations in managing complex waste streams and supporting regulatory compliance.
• Loop Platform Brand Partners (Haagen-Dazs, Tide, Gerber, Evian, Nesquik, Heinz, Burger King, etc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 40 major brands participate in Loop, TerraCycle's global reuse platform, offering products in reusable packaging through major retailers. Brands include Haagen-Dazs, P&G (Tide), Gerber, Evian, Nesquik, Heinz, Burger King, Dr. Bronner's, Gillette, Venus, Clorox, and others. The platform is available at retailers including Carrefour (France), Monoprix (France), and AEON (Japan).
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle participates in and chairs committees on the circular economy for the World Economic Forum. CEO Tom Szaky co-chaired the Consumers Beyond Waste working group. TerraCycle co-authored articles and supported development of three community papers on reuse with WEF.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle collaborates with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to advance reuse adoption for over a decade. Loop is listed on EMF's Circular Startup Index. TerraCycle participates in working groups developing circular economy frameworks and standards.
• Bureau VeritascoreTechnology or IntegrationBureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, developed a first-of-its-kind auditable standard alongside TerraCycle to ensure strong traceability for all global waste streams. Bureau Veritas annually audits TerraCycle's collection and recycling supply chains.
• Ocean Plastics Leadership NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle is an Advisory Board Member of the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network and serves on the Stewardship Council of the Refill/Reuse Action Forum, focusing on implementing reuse at scale in the US market.
• UK Plastics PactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle is a member of the UK Plastics Pact, working collaboratively with other organizations to reduce plastic waste and advance circular economy solutions in the UK.
• Business Coalition for a Global Plastics TreatycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle is a member of the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty and sent a delegation to participate in UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) Treaty negotiations on plastic pollution.
• Product Stewardship InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle serves on the Corporate Advisory Council of the Product Stewardship Institute, advocating for extended producer responsibility and product stewardship policies.
• EvrekacoreTechnology or IntegrationTerraCycle uses a customized version of Evreka's waste management platform in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and European markets to centrally track all waste through each step of the supply chain from receipt through multiple stages of sortation and processing.
• Air Cycle CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle acquired Air Cycle Corporation as part of its TerraCycle Commercial division, expanding capabilities in regulated waste recycling. Air Cycle Corporation is one of several acquisitions expanding TerraCycle's commercial waste management operations.
• Complete Recycling SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle acquired Complete Recycling Solutions as part of its TerraCycle Commercial division, marking the third acquisition in the regulated waste space, following Air Cycle Corporation.
• TerraCycle FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe TerraCycle Foundation (501(c)(3) nonprofit) works to reduce the flow of plastic waste from rivers and canals before it reaches the ocean. Working with local communities in heavily-polluted regions, it designs world-class river waste prevention, collection, and recycling solutions. The Foundation has pulled over two million pounds of waste from Thailand's rivers and canals. Products purchased from the Foundation collection remove 20 lbs of trash from rivers per item.
• CSA Group (Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle participates in CSA Group working groups to help define standards and shape policy recommendations around reuse in Canada.
• PR3 (US Standards)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerraCycle is involved with PR3 in the US to help define standards and shape policy recommendations around reuse.
• Korea PostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorea Post (under the Ministry of Science and ICT) partnered with TerraCycle in 2026 to promote recycling of composite-material products including coffee capsules, cosmetic containers, and water filters from seven brands, offering participants Naver Pay gift certificates and coffee coupons.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stericycle: US-focused regulated waste management company specializing in medical waste, hazardous waste, and compliance services. Directly comparable to TerraCycle Commercial's regulated-waste division and represents the institutional-scale archetype TerraCycle's M&A roll-up is attempting to build toward.
• Waste Management, Inc. Largest US waste and environmental services company with national hauling, landfill, recycling, and processing infrastructure. Operates large-scale MRFs and competes broadly with TerraCycle for commercial recycling volume, though its portfolio is far broader than TerraCycle's hard-to-recycle niche.
• Republic Services: Second-largest US non-hazardous waste services company operating recycling centers and MRFs nationwide. Competes with TerraCycle for commercial recycling contracts and is investing in advanced recycling capabilities that may narrow TerraCycle's differentiation over time.
• Clean Harbors: Largest North American provider of environmental, hazardous, and industrial waste services with extensive treatment, disposal, and recycling facilities. Overlaps with TerraCycle Commercial's hazardous-waste handling capabilities and is the natural large-cap comparable for TerraCycle's regulated-waste acquisitions.
• Veolia Environnement: Global environmental services leader with hazardous waste treatment, recycling, and circular-economy solutions across 40+ countries. Operates regulated-waste and recycling infrastructure directly comparable to TerraCycle Commercial, but at vastly larger scale and with broader portfolio offerings.

Direct peers

• Heritage Environmental Services: Privately-held US provider of hazardous and regulated waste management, recycling, and environmental services. Closest mid-market comparable to TerraCycle Commercial, with overlapping capabilities in lamp/battery/electronics recycling and similar customer base of industrial and institutional waste generators.
• Recology: Employee-owned West Coast integrated waste and recycling company operating MRFs and processing facilities. Comparable for its recycling-led business model and zero-waste philosophy, though concentrated geographically and focused on conventional recyclables rather than hard-to-recycle streams.
• Casella Waste Systems: Regional vertically-integrated solid waste, recycling, and resource-management services company operating in the Northeast US. Comparable to TerraCycle for its resource-recovery focus, regional MRF footprint, and emphasis on recycling over disposal — though focused on conventional streams rather than hard-to-recycle materials.

Emerging players

• Preserve (Gimme 5): Consumer products company with a long-running take-back program (Gimme 5) for hard-to-recycle plastics like toothbrushes and razor handles. Comparable niche overlap with TerraCycle's brand-partnered hard-to-recycle programs, though smaller scale and more limited waste-stream breadth.
• Ridwell: Subscription-based household hard-to-recycle collection startup operating in select US cities. Closest direct emerging competitor to TerraCycle's consumer-facing Zero Waste Box model, offering convenient scheduled pickup for specialty waste streams that mirror TerraCycle's niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/terracycle
• Facebookfacebook.com/terracycle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/61003

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Terracycle