INTERVIEW | Make Money Turning Trash into a $100M Business with TerraCycle Founder, Tom Szaky
Tom Szaky is the founder and CEO of TerraCycle, a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste and building innovative circular economy solutions. Starting the company from a college dorm at Princeton University, Tom transformed a simple idea—turning worm waste into fertilizer—into a nearly $100 million international business. His approach combines profit with purpose, proving that entrepreneurs can solve massive environmental problems while building highly scalable companies.
On this episode we talk about:
How TerraCycle started with worm poop fertilizer and scaled to millions in revenue
Why most “recyclable” items actually aren’t recycled—and the real economics behind it
How Tom pivoted from a product company to a global recycling platform
Creative, scrappy tactics used to land major retailers like Walmart
Building a business model where brands pay to recycle their own waste
Top 3 Takeaways
The best business opportunities often exist in overlooked, “boring” industries like waste.
Your first idea isn’t your final one—successful entrepreneurs pivot when they find a better model.
Aligning profit with purpose can create a scalable business that solves real-world problems.
Notable Quotes
"Garbage is the only material in the world that we pay to get rid of."
"Recycling exists not where it’s possible, but where it’s profitable."
"Take criticism as a gift—it's the fastest way to improve your business."
Connect with Tom Szaky:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomszaky
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/terracyclevideos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terracycle/
Other: https://www.terracycle.com
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