How I Built This with Guy Raz Making garbage useful with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle
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Aug 17, 2023 Tom Szaky, Co-founder and CEO of TerraCycle, aims to revolutionize waste management. He shares his journey from launching a worm poop fertilizer business in college to transforming it into a multimillion-dollar recycling enterprise. Szaky emphasizes the importance of reducing consumption over mere recycling and introduces the innovative Loop initiative, promoting reusable packaging. He candidly discusses the challenges of consumer habits and advocates for a future where recycling becomes obsolete through true sustainability.
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Worm Poop Discovery
- Tom Szaky's friends grew plants in their basement using worm poop fertilizer.
- This sparked Szaky's interest in garbage and its potential.
Dorm Room Composting
- Szaky and his friends started a worm composting operation in their dorm room.
- They used cafeteria food scraps, highlighting the potential of turning garbage into something valuable.
Radio Station Savior
- Szaky's fertilizer business was near bankruptcy after investing in a $20,000 machine.
- A last-ditch effort on a local radio station led to a $2,000 investment that kept the business afloat.