Not only are our free recycling programs, well, FREE, but you also get TerraCycle points for participating! Learn everything you need to know about earning and redeeming points below.
How do I earn TerraCycle points?
You earn TerraCycle points automatically for participating in most of our free recycling programs. For each valid shipment you send in through participating programs, you receive one hundred (100) points per pound.
Make sure to check the “Rewards” section on the web page of each free recycling program that you join. There may be a minimum shipment weight that your box must reach to qualify for points.
Some programs do not participate in TerraCycle points, and some of our brand partners choose to offer their own separate rewards system. This information will be clearly stated on a program page.
Is there any way to earn extra points?
Yes! You can participate in contests and promotions. We occasionally offer bonus points for joining certain programs or sending in shipments during a specific time period. Keep an eye on our social media pages and the contests and promotions page on our website.
What can I do with my points?
TerraCycle points maximize the impact of your recycling efforts. Not only will you keep trash out of landfills and ensure it gets recycled into new products, but you can support great causes at the same time. That’s because TerraCycle points are redeemable as a charitable gift to one of our non-profit partners or as a donation to the school, charity, or non-profit of your choice. Each TerraCycle point is worth one penny.
How do I redeem my points?
You can redeem your points by visiting the “Redeem your points” page on our website, or go to your profile and click “My Impact”. You can redeem as few as one (1) point to support our featured causes.
If you’d like to redeem your points as a donation to the school, non-profit, or charity of your choice, scroll to the “Your school or organization” section of the page. There, you can search to see if your organization is already in our database and, if it’s not, request for it to be added.
Please note, if you choose to redeem your points to an organization of your choice, you must redeem a minimum of 2,500 TerraCycle points ($25 value). We have two payment periods per year. If you redeem by the end of April, your organization will be paid in June. If you redeem by the end of October, your organization will be paid in December.
Do TerraCycle points expire?
If there is no activity in your account after a full year, your points will expire. “Activity” can mean downloading a shipping label, shipping a package to TerraCycle, or redeeming points.
Do I earn points for dropping off my recycling at a TerraCycle drop-off point?
No, you will not earn points for dropping off your trash. The administrator of the drop-off location will accrue all of the points from the trash they send in and redeem those points to their chosen cause.
Do I earn points for sending in my Zero Waste Boxes?
No, you will only accrue points by sending in shipments for participating free recycling programs.
How much has been raised through TerraCycle points?
To date, our recyclers have raised over $45 million for donations globally!
Still have questions? Visit our Help Center to find answers to more common questions about TerraCycle points or connect directly with a customer service representative.