Get trashy - As a parent you probably go through lots of food for your kids that comes in difficult- or impossible-to-recycle packaging, as far as you know. There's a company called TerraCycle that makes products like umbrellas to backpacks, gardening products to recycling bins from  recycled trash <http://www.terracycle.net/> . TerraCycle works directly with the public, enlisting their help in the form of "brigades," - self-organized groups of people, typically schools - that collect packaging <http://www.terracycle.net/> . The newest collected product is Malt-O-Meal <http://www.maltomeal.com> , the cereal company that long ago decided to "Bag the Box," skipping the paper box that is typical of cereals; that alone already reducing the packaging by 75 percent.

"Considering that St. Teresa is a small, private school, the students' efforts are impressive. They recycled more than 18,000 items that would have otherwise added to waste piling up in landfills," she said. A breakdown reveals the students recycled 17,873 drink pouches, 2,678 chip bags and 565 cookie wrappers. For their efforts, they earned the school $357 from TerraCycle, which awards "cash for trash" and gives the items new purpose as backpacks, lunch boxes, trash cans, toys and more.

Teachers at Lostant Elementary School used to see a lot of used Capri Sun drink pouches get thrown away. Now the school earns two cents for every one of those pouches they collect and return to a company called TerraCycle, which makes affordable, eco-friendly products from packaging waste. The school uses the program not only as a fundraising opportunity but as a way to educate and inspire students.

Fortunately, going green doesn't have to be difficult, time-consuming or expensive. In fact, a smart and savvy parent can go green and save green at the same time. Here are a few easy ways you can change the world for the better, and even have fun while you're at it: * Get trashy - As a parent you probably go through lots of food for your kids that comes in difficult- or impossible-to-recycle packaging, as far as you know. There's a company called TerraCycle that makes products like umbrellas to backpacks, gardening products to recycling bins from  recycled trash <http://www.terracycle.net/> . TerraCycle works directly with the public, enlisting their help in the form of "brigades," - self-organized groups of people, typically schools - that collect packaging <http://www.terracycle.net/> . The newest collected product is Malt-O-Meal <http://www.maltomeal.com> , the cereal company that long ago decided to "Bag the Box," skipping the paper box that is typical of cereals, that alone already reducing the packaging by 75 percent.

The recycling project started four months ago, when 14-year-old Alex Copado was reading the packaging of Capri Sun drinks, a lunch-time favorite of students. Alex, a Perris resident who just finished his freshman year at Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, had loved the drink since he was 10, but knew there were no recycling bins designed for containers, like there are for cans and bottles.

Southwest-area schools are among many in the county earning cash by sending non-recyclable waste products to a New Jersey company that transforms the trash into new products like kites and backpacks. TerraCycle partnered with home city brand Malt-O-Meal Cereal Company to collect Malt-O-Meal packaging through “Cereal Bag Brigades” stationed in schools across the country. There are about 1,250 brigades, TerraCycle reported in June.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, Our Daily Green would like to celebrate a company that is taking huge steps to free our nation from trash. Last summer, we wrote about the company TerraCycle and their unique way of helping organizations raise money with trash. TerraCycle is a New Jersey based company that turns items such as juice bags, candy and chip wrappers, and glue bottles into funky, fun school and office supplies and other novelties.

  Did you know that you could earn money for your homeschool group by turning in your trash? TerraCycle's free national collection programs pay non-profits and schools money for collecting used packaging such as drink pouches, energy bar wrappers, yogurt cups, cookie wrappers, chip bags, glue bottles and more! TerraCycle makes affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials.

Terracycle <http://www.myatlantamommy.com/2009/12/terracycle.html>  is a fantastic organization which takes used wrappers and turns them into some super cool stuff! They are always coming up with fun and cool ways to recycle, but they also have come up with a way (actually 6 ways) Moms can go green, reduce waste at home, AND raise money for their kids school and/or favourite charity.

TerraCycle is a fantastic organization which takes used wrappers and turns them into some super cool stuff! They are always coming up with fun and cool ways to recycle, but they also have come up with a way (actually 6 ways) Moms can go green, reduce waste at home, AND raise money for their kids school and/or favorite charity.