We all know how important it is to recycle, but the truth of the matter is that recycling services aren’t available for approximately 41 percent of homes in the United States. As consumers demand better sustainability practices from brands and retailers, take-back programs like TerraCycle and Recyclops are rising to the challenge of recycling the unrecyclable. Take-back companies recycle everything from cigarette butts and human hair to air filters and party supplies — the list goes on and on.
But what are these take-back services, and how do they work? We take an in-depth look at how TerraCycle and Recyclops — Grove Collaborative’s two main take-back partners — work and how you can start using their services to level up your recycling game.