A Note From the Managing Partner

The CPRC logo.

Dear Friends,

Earlier today, The Coffee Pod Recycling Co. reached out to The New York Times to share our story for their “50 States, 50 Sustainability Stories” feature — a nationwide initiative highlighting innovative efforts to make sustainability a local reality in every corner of the country.

For us, this moment represents something special. When we first started the CPRC, it was just three high school students experimenting with a simple idea: could we make it easier for people to recycle used coffee pods? We had no manufacturing experience, no marketing plan, and certainly no idea how much support we’d receive from our community. What we did have was a belief that small actions — if designed well and made accessible — could make a real difference.

Since then, we’ve grown far beyond that first classroom prototype. Our Coffee Pod Recycler has helped households and offices across New Jersey (and increasingly beyond) take a small but important step toward reducing everyday waste. Along the way, we’ve learned about design, entrepreneurship, and the importance of persistence — lessons that continue to guide us as we refine our products and expand our mission.

Being considered for a platform like the New York Times would be an incredible opportunity to share that story on a national stage. It would allow us to highlight not only our work, but also the broader movement of young people building practical, grassroots solutions to environmental challenges. Sustainability doesn’t always begin in boardrooms or research labs — sometimes it starts with a small idea and a shared commitment to make things just a little bit better.

Regardless of what happens next, this moment has reminded all of us how far we’ve come and how much potential remains ahead. We’re grateful to everyone who has supported us — our teachers, mentors, families, and early customers who believed in our vision before it was more than a sketch and a 3D print.

As we take this next step forward, I hope you’ll wish us all good luck. And more importantly, I hope our story encourages others to keep experimenting, keep believing in their ideas, and keep finding ways to make sustainability part of everyday life.

Best,

Henry Griffith

Managing Partner of The Coffee Pod Recycling Co.