TerraCycle marks a decade of recycling in ANZ

TerraCycle is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its expansion into Australia and New Zealand.

The international recycling enterprise, which specialises in hard-to-recycle items, launched itself in the ANZ market in 2014 with just four waste streams — oral care waste, coffee capsules, beauty empties and cigarette butts — all of which are still recycled today through different programs.

Since then, the waste company has kept nearly 100 million items out of landfills and incinerators within the region. This comprises more than 50 million pieces of rubbish recycled via TerraCycle’s free brand-sponsored programs, in addition to the waste recycled through Zero Waste Boxes and commercial freight programs. Globally, TerraCycle has recycled more than 8.3 billion items.

TerraCycle’s regional capacity now includes more than 60 free recycling programs with popular brands such as NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto, Lavazza, GLAD, Royal Canin and many more. 22 of these programs handle empty skincare, haircare and make-up products and packaging with brand partners including Sephora, Garnier, L’Occitane, Maybelline and Schwarzkopf.

During its time in the region, the Australian and New Zealand TerraCycle network has grown from just a few thousand to more than 1.2 million TerraCyclers. This dedicated network includes thousands of dedicated schools, preschools and tertiary education institutions recycling for their faculties, students and families. Many operate as TerraCycle public drop-off points alongside councils, small businesses and environmental organisations that recycle for their wider communities. The public drop-off network has grown from 11 locations in 2014 to more than 2500 locations in 2024.

“TerraCycle could not have achieved this milestone without the support of our brand partners and the commitment of TerraCyclers across Australia and New Zealand,” said Jean Bailliard, General Manager of TerraCycle ANZ. “In the face of a waste crisis that might seem overwhelming, brands, manufacturers, community groups, schools, universities, and hundreds of thousands of Australians and New Zealanders have come together to champion recycling solutions.

“We’re proud to have been able to work closely with some of our brand partners to use the waste recycled through their programs to help create things like MECCA’s in-store recycling collection bins and L’Occitane’s Green Store benchtops and sinks,” Bailliard said.

Bailliard said that in tandem with its recycling programs, TerraCycle had raised millions for schools, charities and other nonprofits globally through the TerraCycle Recycling Rewards program, as well as sponsored community donations such as playgrounds and garden beds made from recycled materials.

“Across Australia and New Zealand alone, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for charities and schools, including Australia’s first playground made of recycled beauty empties in collaboration with Garnier,” he said.

To read more about TerraCycle’s work in Australia and New Zealand, click here.

Image credit: iStock.com/jonnysek