SUEZ and TerraCycle join forces in Europe to develop innovative recycling solutions

SUEZ has announced a new partnership with New Jersey based TerraCycle, including the acquisition of 30% of TerraCycle's activities in Europe, to develop innovative collection and recycling programs in Belgium, Finland, France, the Netherlands, the UK and Sweden. According to the companies, this partnership brings together TerraCycle's collection programs, which focus on community engagement, and SUEZ's expertise in waste recycling and recovery. It will offer individuals, businesses and municipalities new solutions for recycling waste that was previously not recyclable in order to transform it into new secondary resources.

TerraCycle is an internationally recognized company that develops selective collection systems for the recycling of more than 100 specific hard-to-recycle waste streams (disposable items, flexible packaging, office supplies, beauty products, oral care, used coffee capsules and cigarette butts) currently not handled by traditional recycling channels. Active in 20 countries, TerraCycle partners with mass market companies, brands and municipalities to implement recycling programs tailored to these post-consumer products and their packaging. According to the company, they are currently working with nearly 60 million collectors via:

• collection programs set by voluntary citizens, "sponsored" by companies or municipalities (collectors register on TerraCycle's website and are awarded points that are converted into donations for the organizations of their choice),
• or recycling services paid by companies such as "Zero Waste Boxes."

Through this new partnership, SUEZ says it is expanding its range of services in Europe with innovative voluntary collection methods and additional recycling channels for all its customers, particularly for products that need complex packaging and therefore require very specific collection and sorting solutions. All the waste collected will be reused or recycled into new products thanks to SUEZ's recycling expertise.

"We are delighted to embark on this innovative partnership with TerraCycle. Its aim is to recycle more and more waste, even the most complex, by relying on the commitment of everyone – including citizens, municipalities and businesses – wishing to transform waste into new resources for an even more circular and more virtuous economy in Europe," says Jean-Marc Boursier, SUEZ Deputy CEO for the Recycling and Recovery business in Europe.

"Our programs are among the most innovative for promoting recycling. The partnership will expand SUEZ’s public-facing recycling opportunities, while speeding up TerraCycle’s development in Europe. With SUEZ's expertise, TerraCycle will offer more customized recycling solutions tailored to various waste streams," explains Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle.