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Tags"TerraCycle is on the front lines of the ‘green revolution,' and the burgeoning new industry that is emerging based on conservation and environmentally-friendly practices," Corzine said. "These are industries that are creating the jobs of the future. New Jersey is a proud partner with TerraCycle in reducing the amount of waste going into our landfills and creation of useful products while creating business and job opportunities."
TerraCycle has grown from a staff of two to 55 and expects to double its current workforce within the next two to three years. The company is expanding internationally and opened operations in Brazil last month. In September, it will launch in Mexico and the United Kingdom. The company was supported by the state through the Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program. It is also a member of the Trenton Urban Enterprise Zone program.
"TerraCycle was born in Princeton and has grown to be a green powerhouse in Trenton. There is no other state in the country I would rather have founded my business," said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle co-founder and chief executive officer. "As we continue to expand our operations, there are endless opportunities to grow and provide green jobs to inner-city residents, second chance employees, highly trained professionals and even interns from New Jersey's many universities and colleges."Founded in 2001 by a 19-year-old Princeton University freshman, TerraCycle started as an organic fertilizer company and has become one of the fastest growing eco-friendly manufacturers in the world. The company manufactures more than fifty products that are available at major retailers like Target, The Home Depot, OfficeMax, Petco and Whole Foods Market.
TerraCycle also runs free national collection programs with partners like Kraft Foods, Frito Lay and Mars Wrigley that pay nonprofits and schools nationwide to collect used packaging such as drink pouches, energy bar wrappers, yogurt cups, cookie wrappers, and chip bags. The collected materials are upcycled into products ranging from tote bags and purses to shower curtains and kites.
TerraCycle currently partners with over 30,000 schools and nonprofits, including three in Trenton. Since its inception, TerraCycle has salvaged over 10 million drink pouches, 50,000 energy bar wrappers, two million plastic bottles, and one million cookie wrappers.
"When we talk about ‘going green' and ‘green technology,' it is about doing things better and TerraCycle has found a way to do that," Corzine said.
– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM