TerraCycle accused of recycling failures and consumer misinformation in BBC Panorama revelations
31 May 2022 --- The ongoing saga of corruption allegations against TerraCycle’s UK operations was brought to a head last night in BBC Panorama’s investigation Recycling: Where Does My Rubbish Go? Company CEO Tom Szaky was confronted with evidence that his UK waste handler is a sanctioned criminal, that his business system’s collection and recycling rates are extremely low, and that the scheme is likely misleading consumers.
TerraCycle has now severed ties with the handler and says it is even considering legal proceedings against him. Szaky also asserted that the negligible collection rates are “a start” and that consumers can fully inform themselves by “phenomenal” information on TerraCycle’s website.
The BBC also called into question TerraCycle’s business model, which often requires long-distance travel to waste drop-off points and therefore increases fuel emissions. The filmmakers had to make a ten-mile round trip to drop 35 grams of plastic. One of the drop-off points visited was also closed down, which hadn’t been reported on TerraCycle’s website.
However, Szaky says large-scale collections at offices and other institutions make the company’s system environmentally viable.
PackagingInsights is still waiting for a response from TerraCycle.
New discoveries
The documentary’s findings included a Freedom of Information Act request that revealed the sanctioned waste handler (Tianyong Wang) has been charged and pleaded guilty to illegally shipping waste to Indonesia. However, while TerraCycle was operating with the same man at the same address, its contract was with a separately registered business.
Yesterday, PackagingInsights spoke with the investigators who began the case against TerraCycle. They told us the company’s dealings with this subcontractor are extremely strange, even if ignorance of his background is believed.
Szaky says that while TerraCycle is not perfect, its efforts are a meaningful start to ending plastic pollution.Journalist Benedict Wermter says that “Panorama nicely crunched down numbers and revealed that TerraCycle only recycles a tiny amount.”
“Apart from that, citizens driving from town to town to discard some hard-to-recycle plastics has nothing to do with a professional waste business.”
“In fact, TerraCycle is very similar to other recyclers by downcycling plastics into minor applications. The difference is that it is a marketing agency taking advantage of people’s goodwill. They didn’t fight the problem at source but instead helped brands appear environmentally sustainable no matter if you label it greenwashing or not.”
Intimidation tactics?
Wermter says that despite the good findings in the Panorama documentary, he feels TerraCycle may have intimidated many potential sources that would otherwise have shed light on the business’ operations.
“Not everybody who talks off the record has obviously been brave enough to go in front of the camera. It might need more whistleblowers or actual tracking of their operations.”
Tristan Chytroschek, the producer of The Recycling Myth, which initiated the BBC’s investigation into TerraCycle, also says more needs to be done and that pressure against the company will continue.
“The BBC did a good job exposing TerraCycle’s business practices, but this is only the start. The company is based in the US, and what is being exposed now in the UK points to systemic issues.”
Across the Atlantic
Jan Dell, a chemical engineer based in California, US, has been investigating TerraCycle’s US operations after determining its recycling claims were “impossible.” Last year, Dell filed a lawsuit against TerraCycle and eight major brands using its logo, forcing them to change labeling standards.
TerraCycle also agreed to implement a supply chain certification program and was required to reimburse legal fees incurred by Last Beach Cleanup, Dell’s NGO.
By Louis Gore-Langton
