Zero Waste Box™ frequently asked questions
You have questions? We have answers!
What is a Zero Waste Box?
A Zero Waste Box is a complete and convenient solution for recycling hard-to-recycle waste that isn’t typically accepted by traditional recycling services. The cost of a Zero Waste Box includes the production of the box, shipping to you and then back to our recycling facilities, and the actual cost of sorting, cleaning, processing, and recycling the box, liner, and all accepted waste inside.
With TerraCycle, you can recycle almost anything, from coffee capsules, snack wrappers, and VHS tapes to personal protective equipment (PPE) and beauty empties. Zero Waste Box is an all-inclusive recycling solution for hard-to-recycle waste, developed by TerraCycle, the international leader in sustainability solutions.
You can purchase a Zero Waste Box online in small, medium, or large sizes. Once ordered online, the box is delivered by UPS or FedEx ground and arrives flat-packed. Simply open the Zero Waste Box and stand it upright; it’s then ready for you to start putting your hard-to-recycle trash in!
Zero Waste Boxes are easy to set up and use, making them the perfect option for households, schools, businesses, event venues, and manufacturing/industrial facilities looking to increase their sustainable practices and avoid sending waste to landfills and incinerators.
When your Zero Waste Box is full, simply tape the top opening shut. Your box has a prepaid return shipping label already attached! Check the label to see the shipping carrier, then drop off your sealed box at the carrier’s nearest location.
How it works
Shop: Browse our full range of Zero Waste Boxes and select the one that matches the hard-to-recycle trash you would like to recycle.
Collect: Place your Zero Waste Box in a convenient location and fill it with the accepted waste.
Ship: Once full, seal your Zero Waste Box and return it to TerraCycle using the prepaid shipping label that is attached to the back of the box. All boxes ship carbon-neutral!
Recycle: The waste is sorted and then recycled into raw materials used to make new products. The box and liner are also recycled.
Reorder (or Subscribe!): Continue to #RecycleEverything and reorder a new Zero Waste Box. You can also subscribe to your favorite box and receive a new one automatically when you ship back!
Frequently asked questions
Browse FAQ by section:
Orders | Recycled products | About TerraCycle® | Our recycling process
Zero Waste Box Orders
Which Zero Waste solution is right for me?
You can explore all of our Zero Waste solutions here. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, feel free to reach out to our Customer Care team through our Help Center.
What sizes of Zero Waste Boxes are available?
There are three (3) sizes of Zero Waste Boxes to choose from:
- Small: 11" x 11" x 20"
- Medium: 11" x 11" x 40"
- Large: 15" x 15" x 37"
For select waste streams, we also offer Zero Waste Pallets for large-scale recycling and Zero Waste Pouches for small-scale recycling.
Why do I have to pay to recycle with Zero Waste Box?
The cost of a Zero Waste Box includes the production of the box, shipping to you and then back to our recycling facilities, and the actual cost of sorting, cleaning, processing, and recycling the box, liner, and all accepted waste inside.
How does subscription ordering work?
When you order a box/pouch on a subscription, you will be charged and sent a replacement box/pouch every time you return it.
Subscription boxes/pouches are replaced 1-to-1, so we recommend ordering two boxes/pouches when you start a subscription to avoid downtime between fulfillments.
Only the first order placed with a subscription will trigger auto-replenishment (old boxes/pouches previously ordered before subscribing will not be auto-replenished).
To see, edit, or pause your subscription, visit your profile and click 'Subscriptions'. For more information on how to manage your subscription, please click here.
You can mix your cart with one-time purchases and subscription items.
Do you offer volume pricing for online orders?
Yes, for our standard Zero Waste Boxes, we offer volume pricing online for orders of 15+ boxes of the same waste stream and box size. The volume pricing is displayed on the product pages where this is offered. Please note: volume pricing cannot be combined with promotions or discount codes.
How do I assemble and set up my Zero Waste Box?
Watch this video on how to set up your Zero Waste Box.
How do I return my Zero Waste solution when it’s full?
When your Zero Waste Box or Pouch is full, tape the opening shut. Your box or pouch will arrive with an attached prepaid return shipping label. Simply check the label to see the shipping carrier, then drop off your sealed box at the carrier’s nearest location.
If you are returning a Zero Waste Pallet, please contact customercare@terracycle.ca for shipping instructions.
What happens to my trash when I send back my Zero Waste solution?
We guarantee to recycle all accepted waste sent to us through TerraCycle recycling solutions. Once your waste arrives at a TerraCycle Material Recovery Facility (MRF), it’s checked in and sorted before it’s sent to a third-party partner who recycles the waste into new products.
Learn what happens to your trash when you return your Zero Waste solution.
Can I see how much I’ve recycled?
Yes! If you have a TerraCycle account and are logged in when placing your order, your recycling history is accessible in your Profile. You can see how many pounds you have recycled so far, broken down by box returned, and your total amount recycled (lbs).
Please note that if you use guest checkout, you will not be able to view how much you’ve recycled.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping to you is always free for Zero Waste Boxes, Pallets, and Pouches.
The cost of shipping your trash back to TerraCycle is included in your purchase of a Zero Waste Box or Pouch. Each solution comes with a prepaid shipping label for return delivery.
The cost of shipping back to TerraCycle is not included for Zero Waste Pallets and must be arranged and paid for by the customer.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Apple Pay, American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
When will my order arrive?
Orders are typically shipped out 1 to 3 business days after the order is placed. All orders ship via UPS or FedEx ground and can take 1 to 6 business days to arrive. Please note, that during a sale period, these times may vary; expect possible delays with your order being fulfilled.
I need to cancel or return my order. How can I do this?
You can cancel your order before it ships directly from your account profile. View our cancellation, return, and refund policies here.
I need to edit my order. How can I do this?
If you ordered an incorrect item or need to change your payment method, please contact customercare@terracycle.ca.
To remove or update a saved payment method, visit your profile. On the far left, select “Account information” to expand the menu. Click on “Payment methods” to add, edit, or remove a payment method. Please note: payment methods for pending orders cannot be edited or removed until after the order has been shipped. If for any reason, you need to change the payment method for a pending order, you will need to cancel the order and place a new order with the correct/desired payment method.
How do I correct a delivery address after I have placed an order?
Delivery addresses can only be edited before your order has shipped by contacting customercare@terracycle.ca. Once an order has shipped, the delivery address cannot be updated.
Do the shipping labels expire for Zero Waste solutions?
No, they do not expire; whenever your box is full, you can send it back to us for recycling.
Does the shipping label cover the cost of scheduling a pick-up?
No, the cost of scheduling a pick-up is not included. Please be aware that if you schedule a pick-up with UPS, you will be charged by UPS, and TerraCycle is unable to reimburse you for this service.
Recycled Products
What are TerraCycle Made and PRE-Made?
TerraCycle Made products are crafted from the trash we recycled together. Our community of collectors often asks if they can purchase products made from the waste TerraCycle recycles. The answer is YES!
PRE-Made is a collection of products made from 100% recycled plastic, but not TerraCycle’s recycled materials . . . just yet. We’ve partnered with other companies to create a collection of limited edition pilot products, and if our customers like them, they’ll be added to the TerraCycle Made collection later—they’re PRE-Made.
How much does shipping cost?
Orders of recycled products under $50 are charged a flat shipping fee of $6.99. For orders over $50, shipping is free.
Please note that sales tax also applies for orders shipped to Illinois, New Jersey, and Seattle, Washington.
How do I return a damaged or defective product?
You can view our cancellation, return, and refund policies here.
About TerraCycle
How do the free recycling programs work, and how do they differ from Zero Waste solutions?
Our free recycling programs are free for you to participate in. To start, simply sign up for a TerraCycle account, join free recycling programs, and start sending in trash for recycling using free shipping labels downloaded through your TerraCycle account.
Because brands sponsor our free recycling programs, the brands specify which type of waste is accepted in their programs, and you can only recycle that brand and type of trash. However, our paid Zero Waste solutions allow you to #RecycleEverything. The shipping and recycling costs are built into the price.
Why does a Zero Waste Box cost money when the free recycling programs do not?
Our free recycling programs are sponsored by brands that cover the cost of shipping and recycling. While you can recycle for free, you can only recycle accepted program waste through these programs.
When you purchase a Zero Waste solution, the price covers the cost of shipping, sorting, and recycling the materials that you send to us. You can #RecycleEverything (depending on the type of Zero Waste solution you buy).
Zero Waste Boxes are not in our budget. Is there something we can do?
The price of a Zero Waste Box is based on the current shipping and recycling costs for each material type. We understand this service may not be a fit for all customers at this time. We do offer our Zero Waste Pouches, which are a budget-friendly alternative for select waste streams. We also recommend signing up for email and texts so that you’re notified of sales and promotions.
For additional recycling options, we also recommend checking out TerraCycle’s free recycling programs, which you can participate in for free.
I want to recycle everything and do more to reduce my impact. What else can I do?
That's the spirit! Follow us on social media refer to the links below for more ways you can join us in Eliminating the Idea of Waste®.
Free recycling programs: Sponsored by your favorite brands, so you can recycle accepted waste for free.
Zero Waste Bag: Curbside recycling pickup for hard-to-recycle items; available in select communities. Enter your zip code to find a business that offers Zero Waste Bags in your area.
Loop: A new way to shop, without the waste.
Our Recycling Process
Everything collected through Zero Waste Boxes is sorted and processed into raw materials that can be reused instead of sent to landfills and incinerators. We’ve developed recycling solutions for even the most complex waste streams. Read below to learn how different types of material are recycled.
PLASTICS: Plastics are sorted, cleaned, and mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.
METALS: Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metal manufacturing.
GLASS: Glass is removed. It is then sorted, crushed, and melted to be used in new glass products or cement and concrete applications.
ORGANICS: Organics are composted.
PAPER: Paper is hydro-pulped to separate the fibers. The separated paper is recycled into new paper-based products.
FABRICS: Textiles are separated by fabric type, shredded, and recycled into raw material. Textiles that are made of mixed fibers are used as filler for products such as mattresses, pet bedding, isolation, and sports equipment.
ELECTRONICS: All materials are shredded. Metals are sorted, smelted, and formed for use in secondary metals manufacturing. Clean, sorted plastics are mixed with other plastics to make recycled plastic blends.