TRENTON, N.J.—Taco Bell is expanding its recycling program with international recycling leader TerraCycle to now collect all brands and types of sauce packets. This means that all condiment or sauce packets, whether Taco Bell or otherwise, can be collected, mailed back with a prepaid shipping label, and given a spicier second life. As an added incentive, for every shipment of waste sent to TerraCycle through this program, collectors earn TerraCycle points that can be donated to a nonprofit, school, or charitable organization of their choice.
“Earlier this spring, we tested the idea with consumers to responsibly recycle any brand of condiment sauce packets,” said Missy Schaaphok, Director of Global Nutrition & Sustainability at Taco Bell. “We worked with TerraCycle and a franchisee in New Jersey to test out the concept, and it was such a success. As a result, we decided to take the idea nationwide and share the love beyond our iconic sauce packets, giving a more sustainable option to everyone.”
Through the Taco Bell Sauce Packet Free Recycling Program, consumers are encouraged to mail in all brands and types of empty sauce packets to TerraCycle within the contiguous United States. Participation is free and easy: simply sign up on the TerraCycle program page https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/tacobell, collect any and all empty packets, then mail them in using the provided prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packets are cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.
“In an effort to drive sustainable awareness across the quick service industry, the aim of our partnership with Taco Bell is to make recycling any and all sauce packets as easy and accessible as possible with no restrictions,” said TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. “Through this ground-breaking expansion, consumers now have an even greater opportunity to reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills and make a positive impact on the environment for future generations.”
The Taco Bell Sauce Packet Free Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization. For more information on TerraCycle’s recycling program, visit www.terracycle.com.
