Taco Bell has launched a new nationwide recycling program in partnership with waste management company TerraCycle, offering customers the chance to recycle single-serving sauce packets. The initiative, which began as a pilot program in 2021, aims to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics.
Initially, Taco Bell and TerraCycle encouraged customers to mail in used sauce packets in exchange for reward points. These points could then be converted into cash donations to selected nonprofits. The following year, the program expanded to accept sauce packets from any brand, broadening its environmental reach.
In 2022, the program tested the idea of recycling any brand of condiment sauce packets with consumers. Missy Schaaphok, director of global nutrition and sustainability at Taco Bell, noted the pilot’s success, which led to the program’s national expansion later that year. The initiative now includes the recycling of sauce-dipping cups, souffle cups and lids, and coffee creamer pods.
Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle, emphasized the program’s goal of providing innovative sustainability solutions for hard-to-recycle waste streams. By collaborating with Taco Bell, TerraCycle aims to make it easy for consumers to recycle all sauce packets without restrictions.
Single-use plastics pose a significant environmental challenge, taking decades to break down and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions during production.
The fast-food industry, in particular, struggles with reducing single-use waste. Taco Bell estimated that 8.2 billion of its sauce packets ended up in landfills each year before the pilot program’s launch.
While the recycling program relies on customers mailing in used packets, Taco Bell recognizes the need for further action. The company has committed to making all its consumer packaging recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025.
Additionally, it plans to eliminate harmful chemicals like PFAS and bisphenol A (BPA) from packaging materials and introduce recycling and composting bins in its restaurants.
Despite these efforts, concerns remain about the potential for customers to request extra sauce packets to earn more reward points. This could counteract the program’s environmental benefits by increasing the number of packets in circulation. Taco Bell and TerraCycle will need to address this issue to ensure the program’s success and its positive impact on reducing single-use plastic waste.
Taco Bell’s recycling program represents a significant step towards sustainability in the fast-food industry. By partnering with TerraCycle, the company aims to tackle the environmental challenges posed by single-use plastics and promote responsible recycling practices among its customers.
