Collection of toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes by TerraCycle for recycling into plastic granules.

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TerraCycle

  • For ten years, TerraCycle has saved, each year, around 12 million waste destined for landfill or incineration in France.

  • Among the forty objects collected, we find surprising waste such as pantyhose, pacifiers for children, toothbrushes or tubes of toothpaste.

  • About 5 million volunteers participate in the fundraising in exchange for donations to associations of their choice.

Give instead of throwing away.

On closer inspection, it is crazy the number of objects that deserve to be recycled, but which, for economic reasons, escape the traditional circuits of waste reception centers.

However, this waste, which is difficult to recycle, ends up in a 2,000 m² warehouse in Troisvilles, near Caudry, in the North.

Why Troisvilles?

"Because the warehouse is located near a recycling center belonging to Suez, a partner of TerraCycle", indicates the spokesperson for the American company which organizes collection throughout France, with the help of around 5 million volunteers.

Twelve million waste saved from incineration

For ten years, TerraCycle has saved, each year, around 12 million waste destined for landfill or incineration in France.

Among the forty objects carefully collected, we find traditional deodorants or coffee capsules, but also tights, pens, and, more surprisingly, tights, pacifiers for children, toothbrushes or toothpaste tubes. .

“We work with partners who specialize in recycling materials,” explains TerraCycle.

In the case of toothbrushes, the bristles are separated from the handle.

Each material is heated and pressed to obtain plastic granules used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture or flower boxes.

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The TerraCycle waste center, located in Troisvilles, near Caudry, in the North - TerraCycle

Municipalities, SMEs, convenience stores and especially individuals therefore participate in this vast recycling program by organizing the harvest.

This is the case, for example, of Clothilde Andrusin, in Tourcoing, who discovered this device through word of mouth.

Points convertible into donations

His paramedical practice is regularly transformed into a collection point.

“Between November 2019 and March 2020, I was able to send more than 30 kg of waste to be recycled.

I restarted the harvest recently and I keep encouraging people to drop off their used toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes in order to give them a second life, ”she explains.

This harvest allows him to obtain points convertible into donations for the association of his choice.

The only downside to this virtuous circle of recycling: the selling price of recycled raw material does not yet absorb production costs.

Today, manufacturing plastic from natural substances or chemical derivatives remains more economically profitable than using recycled materials.

“We call on the sponsorship of major brands to finance our operations,” underlines TerraCycle.

Without these sponsors, the economic model would not be viable ”.

This is how certain programs appear and disappear at the discretion of the partners.

Currently, around twenty are available on the TerraCycle site.

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