TerraCycle On-Demand FAQ

How does TerraCycle On-Demand work?

You can build a TerraCycle recycling program on your own with TerraCycle On-Demand

For a base price of $99 per month, set up and manage a national recycling program that fits your budget and needs. Our easy-to-use program builder will guide you through the process. Choose which recycling solutions to offer, and decide how much of the cost you’d like to subsidize (up to 100%, making the solution free for your consumers). Manage your program and re-order recycling solutions on-demand.

Once you’ve launched your recycling program, spread the news that your customers can visit terracycle.com to order recycling solutions for your products and packaging. We'll handle all fulfillment, support, and—of course—the recycling.

Prefer a full-service, highly-customizable recycling program? Learn about our Enterprise programs. 

Is a TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program right for my business?

A TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program may be right for you if:

  • you’re interested in a solution you can manage to your budget and that has no long-term contract
  • you’re looking to offer recycling solutions to your customers quickly
  • you would like to have the option to share the cost of recycling with customers (through our subsidy feature)

TerraCycle On-Demand recycling programs are available for a select number of waste streams. See all available waste streams under “Is my waste stream accepted through TerraCycle On-Demand?”

How is TerraCycle On-Demand different from TerraCycle Enterprise?

TerraCycle On-Demand is perfect for an organization looking to launch a low-cost recycling program quickly. The monthly subscription is $99, and recycling solutions are ordered as needed. On-Demand offers a subsidy feature that allows brands to subsidize the cost of recycling solutions 100 percent or share the cost with customers by choosing a lower subsidy level.

TerraCycle Enterprise free recycling programs are fully brand-sponsored, meaning that under contract, the brand partner pays 100 percent of the cost of the program. The program appears on our free recycling programs page. TerraCycle manages the program to a set recycling budget, provides regular reporting and support, and provides customized PR and marketing support to drive awareness of your recycling program. Enterprise-level programs cannot be created through the TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program builder. Contact us to learn more about Enterprise. 

For more information about free recycling programs and other partnership opportunities, visit our Partner with us page. 

How much does TerraCycle On-Demand cost?

TerraCycle On-Demand recycling programs are designed to be affordable. There are two pricing components. One is a $99 monthly subscription fee that gives you 24/7 access to our automated program builder to manage your program and re-order recycling solutions. The other is the cost of the recycling solutions (envelopes). You can select the types of recycling solutions and the quantities of each you wish to order. With a TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program, you can subsidize the cost of recycling solutions 100 percent (making them free to your customers) or choose a lower subsidy to share the cost. 

Is my waste stream accepted through TerraCycle On-Demand?

TerraCycle On-Demand accepts most of the popular waste streams. See the list below. (Don’t see your waste stream? Contact us to learn about Enterprise recycling programs, available for virtually any waste stream.)

 
  • Beauty products & packaging
    • Haircare packaging
    • Skincare packaging
    • Makeup packaging
       *Aerosol cans, perfume bottles, nail polish bottles, and nail polish remover bottles are not accepted.
 
  • Flexible & rigid plastics
    • Plastic bags
    • Plastic shipping materials
    • Food storage and takeout containers
    • And much more
       *Packing peanuts and biodegradable PLA plastics are not accepted.
 
  • Food & snack packaging
    • Candy & snack wrappers
    • Coffee bags
    • Coffee capsules
    • Baby food pouches
    • Drink pouches
 
  • PPE & facilities waste
    • Disposable gloves
    • Hair nets, beard nets, and earplugs
 
  • Electronic waste
    • Ink and toner cartridges
    • Media storage (e.g., CDs, DVDs, memory sticks)
 
  • Miscellaneous waste
    • Pens, pencils, and markers
    • Incandescent light bulbs
    • Plastic cards (cut-up IDs, licenses, credit cards, etc.)
    • Water filters
    • Eyewear

 

What happens to the hard-to-recycle trash that my customers send through TerraCycle On-Demand?

We guarantee that we recycle all the accepted waste sent to us. Once collected, the products and packaging are separated by material type. The materials are then recycled into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products. We strictly control the movement of materials through each part of the recycling process so we can track and confirm where materials were sent and for what purpose. Bureau Veritas—a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification services— annually audits our collection and recycling supply chains, as do many of our partners.

Can I have more than one TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program?

Yes, you may set up separate TerraCycle On-Demand recycling programs for as many waste streams as you would like. For example, a coffee company may have one TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program for coffee capsules and another for coffee bags. Set up your recycling programs through the same TerraCycle account.

See all available waste streams under “Is my waste stream accepted through TerraCycle On-Demand?”

How do I create a TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program?

Create a TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program today through our self-serve recycling program builder. We’ll guide you through the steps, and your program can be live in as few as five days.

How do I manage my TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program?

It’s easy to manage your recycling program to your needs and budget. Simply log in to your TerraCycle account and navigate to the “On-Demand for business” section of your profile to add inventory, request modifications, review performance, and more.

Which recycling solutions should I offer through my TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program?

We recommend offering a variety of product sizes to your customers. 

Choose to offer at least one but up to all of the following recycling solutions:

  • Small Zero Waste Envelope - 7.5” x 10.5”
  • Medium Zero Waste Envelope - 10” x 13”
  • Large Zero Waste Envelope - 12" x 15.5"
 

What subsidy level should I choose for my recycling solutions?

Providing free recycling solutions to your customers is the best way to encourage participation in your recycling program. We recommend that you sponsor 100 percent of the cost of your recycling solutions, or the highest percentage of the cost that fits in your budget.

You can set different subsidy levels for different recycling solutions. For instance, you may choose to cover the cost of Small Zero Waste Envelopes entirely but Medium Zero Waste Envelopes 80 percent, letting your customers choose which option works best for them. You can adjust subsidy levels every time you reorder products. View our Pricing guide.

Can I change my subsidy?

Yes—you can change your recycling solution subsidy levels every time you reorder recycling solutions. 

Please note that if you have stock left for a recycling solution when you reorder that solution, your subsidy will remain the same as it was on your last order.

Can I change my customizations?

Yes—you can request modifications at any time by visiting the “Active programs” page in your account profile. Under “My programs”, find the TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program you wish to modify. Click “Modify” and select the customizations you’d like to update. 

You can edit the following customizations:

  • Program name
  • Program story
  • Product name
  • Brand logo
  • Product picture
  • Subsidy

Modifications will be reviewed by our team. They may take up to five business days to go into effect.

How do I reorder recycling solutions?

Visit the “Active programs” page in your account profile to reorder recycling solutions at any time. Under “My programs”, find the TerraCycle On-Demand recycling program for which you wish to add inventory. Click “Order recycling solutions” and select the solutions as well as quantity and subsidy that fit your needs. 

What happens if I run out of recycling solutions?

We’ll send you email reminders to reorder recycling solutions when you’re running low on inventory. If you happen to run out of inventory completely, your recycling program will continue running. However, the recycling solutions you’ve selected will only be available to your customers at full price (no subsidy). Order more subsidized solutions as soon as possible to share the cost with customers.  

Can I cancel anytime? 

TerraCycle On-Demand recycling programs involve no long-term contracts, so you can cancel anytime. 

To cancel, go to the “Payment” page in your account profile. Once you cancel your program, it will immediately be closed.

Please be sure only to cancel once your inventory has been depleted. Unused inventory will not be refunded.

What is the return policy for TerraCycle On-Demand?

We do not offer refunds on recycling solutions. If you have questions or need support, please contact our Customer Support team.

What are other ways I can partner with TerraCycle?

There are many ways to partner with TerraCycle in Eliminating the Idea of Waste®!

 
  • Recycle anything
    • Upgrade from TerraCycle On-Demand to an Enterprise-level national recycling program. Enterprise recycling programs are fully-customizable and include a dedicated account executive, regular reporting, customized PR and marketing support, and more to maximize impact. 
    • For offices and facilities, we also offer bulk solutions for recycling everything from coffee capsules and PPE to regulated waste. Our programs range from mailback to pickup, offering customizable solutions that can be easily adapted to fit your needs.
 
  • Create products with recycled material 
    • We develop custom supply chains to collect and process unique recycled materials that tell a story (from beach plastic to festival waste and more) for integration into your brand’s primary packaging. From there, our team works with you to leverage this story to generate sales lifts, incremental display space, positive earned media placements, and marketing buzz.
 
  • Shift to reusables
    • Transform your disposable packaging into durable, reusable alternatives with Loop. A TerraCycle innovation, Loop is a reuse platform that enables our partners—from the world’s largest consumer brands to the newest start-ups—to rethink and design out of disposability while maintaining convenience and affordability.
 
  • Integrate innovation 
    • Would you like to find out if your products can, at their end of life, deliver useful health and wellness insights for your consumers? Analyzing human, household, animal, and mechanical samples left on products and packaging before recycling can help customers lead more informed and healthier lives with your added diagnostics.

Please contact us for more information on partnership opportunities.

 

Have further questions about TerraCycle On-Demand? Reach out to our Customer Care team.