About the Author

Molly Gallagher/TerraCycle

TOM SZAKY IS FOUNDER AND CEO OF TerraCycle, a global leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle waste. TerraCycle operates in 21 countries, working with some of the world’s largest brands, retailers, cities, and manufacturers to establish national platforms to recycle products and packaging that currently go to landfill or incineration.

Through TerraCycle, Tom is pioneering new waste management processes involving manufacturers and consumers to devise circular solutions for hundreds of waste streams— including cigarette butts, laboratory waste, used coffee capsules, dirty diapers, used chewing gum, old plastic gloves, and even flexible food packaging—that otherwise have no path to be recycled. As one example, TerraCycle developed and operates the largest supply chain for ocean plastic in the world, partnering with such companies as Procter & Gamble to integrate this material into their product packages.

Tom and TerraCycle have received hundreds of social, environmental, and business awards, as well as recognition from a range of organizations, including the United Nations, the US Chamber of Commerce, Fortune magazine, the World Economic Forum, and the Schwab Foundation.

Tom is the author of three other books, Revolution in a Bottle (2009), Outsmart Waste (2014), and Make Garbage Great (2015). He created, produced, and starred in TerraCycle’s reality show, Human Resources, which aired three 10-episode seasons on Pivot from 2014 to 2016 and is now syndicated in more than 20 foreign markets; it is also available to stream on Amazon and iTunes. Tom also writes for news outlets, from the New York Times and TreeHugger to HuffPost and Entrepreneur magazine.

Tom serves on the boards of directors of the Product Stewardship Institute, D’Addario Foundation, World Economic Forum (Future of Consumption board), and Ellen McArthur Foundation (CE100 board). He holds an international baccalaureate degree from Upper Canada College and attended Princeton University, where he developed the idea for Terra-Cycle. He is a frequent global lecturer, including annual appearances at Princeton University, the Wharton School of Business, Harvard Business School, and Yale University.