With Earth Day around the corner on April 22nd, the time is ripe for a recycling reminder. With natural resources being stretched thin to accommodate growing populations, the need to recycle is greater than ever. But what can be recycled, and how can you go about doing it?

One company that has been making great strides in recycling is TerraCycle (https://www.terracycle.com/en-US). This company enlists the help of nonprofits and schools to collect reusable materials, and then turns those discarded products into something new. TerraCycle upcycles items (keeping the original materials intact, and simply sewing or fusing it with other materials to create something new), and also recycles materials, turning them into entirely different products.

One brand that has gotten attention for its collaboration with TerraCycle is Capri Sun. When school groups create a Drink Pouch Brigade (https://www.kraftbrands.com/caprisunmoms/be-green-earn-green.aspx) and turn in empty pouches, they receive a cash incentive and the pouches get turned into tote bags, folders, backpacks and more.

TerraCycle creates much more than school supplies, however. They also turn old discarded products into fences, cleaning supplies, outdoor benches, planting pots and boxes, and more. The finished products can be purchased from major retailers including Walmart and Target, as well as online. The company makes use of scrap metal, plastic, and natural fibers to create the new items.

BloApCo supports recycling efforts by shredding and baling discarded materials for easy handling. Corrugated board represents the bulk of material we work with, since its so often used in shipping and packaging. With such high volume and demand, recycling is vital to ensure a steady, sustainable supply. This Earth Day, we urge retail distribution centers to take a look at their waste handling procedures and find new ways to make them even more eco-friendly. Ensure that all recyclable materials are undergoing the correct process to get the most out of those items. Corrugated box shredding and recycling is one of the biggest steps you can take to lessen your environmental footprint.

If you’re looking for ways to boost efficiency in distribution center and paperboard plant facilities, be sure to contact us with your company information and requirements so that we can come up with a custom solution that fits your needs. We look forward to working with you to green your business.