Developing New Products from Waste Streams at TerraCycle

Presented By: Lucas Ho, Princeton University ’14

10/7/11

Background Interned at TerraCycle in Trenton, NJFounders include two former Princeton students (‘05), Tom Szaky

and Jon BeyerTerraCycle isn’t your run of the mill recycling company, as it focuses

on finding new uses for unrecyclable waste (classic example: making backpacks out of juice pouches)

Focus of InternshipTurn waste in to treasure and thus improve sustainabilityBasically centered on a more effective way to manage waste, which

was upcycling/recycling unrecyclable wasteSought to find ways objects that were previously thrown in to landfills

could be effectively harnessed

Internship ActivitiesExamined some of the largest waste streams and their constitutions,

researched the materials’ properties, and devised new uses for these waste streams

Started with researching ways that textile and plastic recycling could be made more effective and environmentally friendly

Then, moved on to e-cycling and silk, gum, diaper, and cigarette butt recycling

Interspersed: my own pursuits such as super glue resistant gloves and uranium extraction

Skills Developed and Insights GainedSkills Developed: Inspecting patents, research skills, self-guided

exploration, technical knowledge, cold callingFound various new applications for waste streams, especially when I

arranged the floppy disk inventory to be shipped to an artist who uses the disks as canvas

Personal commitment to pursuing an academic track and career involving sustainability strengthened

Realized the prevalence of teamwork in the business worldSaw how ideas are implemented in companiesLearned what the differences between the corporate and

academic/student worlds are

AcknowledgementsDr. Ernie Simpson, my mentor/supervisor and TerraCycle’s VP of

Global R&DTom Szaky, founder and CEOTerraCycle staffPEI for the funding