[2] It primarily runs a volunteer-based recycling platform to collect non-recyclable pre-consumer and post-consumer waste on behalf of corporate donors, municipalities, and individuals to turn it into raw material to be used in new products.

[4][5] In 2002, the company bought a US$20,000 continuous-flow composting system invented by Harry Windle of Gainesville, Florida, to take organic waste and have it processed by worms into fertilizer.

[5][19] During its growth, the company bought an abandoned mansion to house its interns and a warehouse for its fertilizer production and offices.

[10] In 2007, TerraCycle developed Brigade and waste collection programs for Honest Tea, Stonyfield Farm, and Kraft Foods.

[27] In the UK, by 2010 its programmes have diverted over 57 million items of packaging waste from landfill (around the weight of a jumbo jet) while earning over £744,000 for schools, charities and non-profit organisations.

[28] From 2012, the firm and various tobacco companies partnered to launch a widespread collection and recycling system for cigarette butts.

[29] The cigarette filters, generally made from cellulose acetate, are refined into pellets that are then used in the production of plastic items such as shipping pallets, benches, and ashtrays.

The first bottles went on sale in France in June 2017 and in October the project was recognized by the United Nations as a winner of a Momentum For Change Lighthouse Activities Award.

[35] The system ships food, household cleaning, personal care products in a reusable padded container.

The worms' excrement was then liquefied into "compost tea" by mixing it with air and warm water in large vats.

[39][40] Its recycling programs enable individuals or groups to collect specified waste materials in exchange for donations to a selected cause or school.

[4][22] Users sign up via the firm's website,[22] and shipping and donation costs are generally covered by a sponsoring company related to the specified recycling program.

[48][49] Scotts dropped the case after TerraCycle agreed to recolor its packaging to orange and green, and remove pictures of fruits and vegetables on its labels.

[12][27] In 2014, Pivot launched Human Resources, a reality TV series providing a behind-the-scenes look at day-to-day operations at TerraCycle's headquarters.