Recyclebank + Greenopolis = bright future for package recycling

As recycling has gained ground and moved to the forefront of concern in the past few years with the overflowing landscapes across the country and world, the innovative space of end-of-life processes has been growing. TerraCycle is no longer alone in this space, and we’re glad for the growth and attention that recycling solutions are receiving.

We’re often asked what our greatest challenges are, and we often respond that keeping recycling at the forefront of concern and seeing that “green” doesn’t become a short-lived trend that peters out in the next few years. From the recent trends I’ve seen in the packaging industry, I think recycling is growing stronger, especially with the recent merger of Recyclebank and Waste Management’s Greenopolis.

Both of these are recycling programs with different backgrounds: Recyclebank has start-up roots, while Greenopolis is an offshoot of one of the largest players in the industry, Waste Management. The merger is an example of how recycling is a main concern for groups of all kinds: While Waste Management has been traditionally focused on non-recyclable waste and common recyclables, a partnership with Recyclebank stretches the reach of both companies. The expanded recycling access and options this gives consumers is important.

For green habits and recycling to stay as trends, and gain ground, they need to be made as easy as possible, which is, in large part, the responsibility of the recycling industry. Partnerships and mergers between manufacturers, recyclers and trash companies are vital to keeping the industry moving.

Partnerships are important in expanding consumer reach. The businesses involved also need consumers to be able to sustain the partnerships they create and the services that they offer. The partnerships and offerings to consumers show that business and industry are serious about recycling. The question is, will consumers stay serious about it? The trend is growing stronger in the industry–how about in the consumer world? What do these mergers mean for the big picture of the end-of-life process industry?

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