TerraCycle wins Green Innovator award

Philly's recent Greenfest turned out to be a gorgeous day, attracting more than 15,000 people to Headhouse Square, where more than 100 businesses, organizations and other greenies had set up booths.

One of the highlights is always the "Green Innovators" program, and this year eight businesses and organizations were nominated for the $750 award.

And the winner was....TerraCycle, the Trenton company that recycles and upcycles just about everything you could think of. They pay schools and charitable institutions to send them stuff, then they make something cool out of it and resell it ... and manage to make a profit along the way.

Nothing is too disgusting, apparently. When I checked in with them last November, they were coming up with a plan to recycle cigarette butts, of all things.

TerraCycle announced it would donate the prize to South Philly High School's Greening Plan, a fellow Green Innovator. The plan aims to transform the school's urban campus into a green learning environment.

The company was selected during the festival, on Sept. 8, by Greenfest attendees, online voters, and a judging panel that included a representative from the Clean Air Council and SCA, a Philadelphia global hygiene and forest products company that sponsored the contest.

"TerraCycle's dynamic approach to recycling has taken the concept of recycling to an unprecedented level. The company embodies the innovation and sustainability that are essential for any business to succeed," said Amy Bellcourt, vice president of communications for SCA.