Lake Forest-based Ecycler wins $20,000 in Fairfield Inn & Suites ‘Small Business Challenge’

“Collect. Connect. Recycle.” is the tagline for Timothy Laurent and Craig Robertson’s Lake Forest green business, ecycler.

After understanding their innovative approach to the disposal of recyclable materials, it’s clear to see how it’s easy as  1-2-3.

First, households and businesses collect their recyclable materials and separate them into individual cans or bags. Discarders are then able to log on to ecycler.com and pick a collector in their area that will come to gather the cans, bottles, or newspapers, at a particular time.

The result is a win-win for everyone involved: Households and businesses are now presented with a substitution for curbside recycling – often there is either an additional cost, or the service is not offered at all – and collectors are able to make money by selling the recyclable materials to proper facilities.

“We wanted to create a company that was both green and helped society,” said Robertson. “My first business as a kid was recycling cans, bottles and newspapers, and I used the proceeds to buy my first computer. Now we’re using technology to help others recycle and earn money.”

Laurent and Robertson’s dedication to the cause made them the winners of the 2010 Fairfield Inn & Suites' “Small Business Road-to-Success Challenge,” which included a $20,000 prize.

As one of 10 finalists during the three-month contest, Laurent and Robertson traveled across the country and stayed at Fairfield Inn & Suites for free while marketing their business through social media by blogging, and using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. During the contest, ecycler exceeded its original business goals by registering over 100 new collectors and more than 600 discarders.

“As a result of our efforts on these trips, hundreds of users have registered on ecycler.com,” said Robertson. “These new discarders and collectors will help keep cans, bottles and newspapers from clogging up landfills; local communities will benefit because the collectors will earn extra income that can be pumped back into the local economy.”

As for life after the challenge, Laurent and Robertson are finding even more ways to develop the site and broaden the ideals of ecycler: extending the site to Canada, adding the iPhone application, and partnering with web-based companies that recycle batteries and inkjet cartridges, are just some of the things on their agenda.

“Tim and I had three themes in mind when adding to ecycler,” said Robertson. “We wanted to educate, entertain, allow people to make money, and most importantly, encourage others to become green.”

For more information on the services offered in your area, visit ecycler.com.