If you happened to tune into the National Geographic Channel last evening between 8-11 pm, then you would have witnessed what many environmentally friendly individuals are calling the coolest, most innovative company to sprout up in a long time. The company, Terracycle, is a recycling company with a twist. TerraCycle, which was founded back in 2001 by a 19 year old Princeton University student named Tom Szaky works wonders with garbage. The company collects certain products such as potato chip bags, juice packs, gum packages, old cell phones, etc, and turns them into amazing products like recycling bins, coolers, fences, cork boards and more. They actually donate money to charity for people like you and I to send them certain pieces of trash. They even pay for the shipping and handling. Thus far they have collected an estimated 1.8 billion units of trash from over 10 million individuals, and have donated over $1.2 million to charities.

Y’all have no doubt seen the posts by Mandy @ Harper’s Happenings <http://www.harpershappenings.com/2010/07/02/awareness-giveaway-terracycle/> , Suzanne @ Bebehblog <http://bebehblog.com/terracycle-giveaway/>  and Allsion @ O My Family  <http://omyfamilyblog.com/2010/07/o-my-birthday-bash-terracycle/> about the awesome thing that TerraCycle  <http://www.terracycle.net/> is doing. Normally I would politely decline to do a giveaway of a product if several other prominent bloggers had just done one, but this is different. This isn’t about the giveaway. This is about sharing knowledge about this program that everyone should participate in. The free stuff is just icing on the cake.

Terracycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>   is 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. Terracycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  realizes Moms have enough things to think about  without wondering how to reduce the amount of waste leaving their home  and heading to the local landfill. So they have come up with six new  Brigades (read as free collection programs!) to make it easier than ever  for parents to eliminate waste from their home while raising money for a  school or charity of their choice. All they need to do is collect and  send in the packaging you discard every day, TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  pays the postage  and contributes two cents per unit of waste returned. I keep mine in a  bag by the pantry next to the bag for Box Tops to make things easier.

  I may not be the greenest girl there ever was, but I try to do what I can for my environment and our planet so when I found out aboutTerraCycle, I was all on board to do a promotion. Just to let you know, this is not a review or a giveaway. It's merely something that was brought to my attention and I am trying to raise awareness. I am not receiving anything nor am I giving anything to you wenches either (xoxo) but I am going to tell you all aboutTerraCycle because I think it's a great company.

This is like the ultimate way to be green… having NO trash. I like to think we’re pretty green – we recycle, we compost, we barely have any trash. But we do have trash. Look at this way: in nature, there is no trash. What is waste from one, becomes food or shelter for another. Everything is used. Why can’t we do that? That’s where TerraCycle comes in! They take what cannot be recycled and they “upcycle” it to make products you can use. TerraCycle is fairly new, but is quickly spreading around the world. They pay schools, daycares, families, anybody! 2 cents to send in waste that would otherwise sit in a landfill. How do you get involved and help save the earth?

OK I admit it.  I LOVE trash!  I love seeing that Upcycle It! barrel filled to the brim at the Farmers Market.   It certainly shows Westford's support and commitment to sustainability. Many of us are parents. Seems like the “green bug” bites a little harder when you look at those tiny faces.  TerraCycle has a few new Brigades ideal for parents. Which would you like to see us join? 1) The AVEENO Beauty Brigade – ANY brand and ANY type of personal care beauty tubes. Examples include lotion, sun tan lotion, face wash tubes, body wash tubes. A tube is a container that is crimped at one end and has an opening at the other. 2) The SCOTT Brigade – the outer plastic from ANY brand of paper towel, napkin, toilet paper or similar paper products – no paper wrappings 3) The HUGGIES Brigade – the outer plastic on ANY brand of diaper/personal product packaging; excluding boxes and bins (from baby wipes). Examples would be the overall outer plastic package wrapping on diapers, depends, pull ups, pads, etc.  Does not include the clear plastic wrapping inside a box of diapers. 4) The Home Storage Brigade – This brigade includes ANY size storage bags (freezer, storage, regular, sandwich) and containers. We would need to remove any crumbs and pieces of food, but stuck on ingredients (i.e. peanut butter) are acceptable. 5) The Neosporin Tube Brigade – Any size Neosporin brand antibiotic and ointment tubes 6) The Sprout Brigade – Sprout baby food pouches; excluding glass baby jars.

Terracycle realizes that Moms are the main shoppers, organizers, and most involved in the school activities. Because of this, they have new, Mom focused brigades. Parents want to make their children's world greener.  Unfortunately, daily life can get in the way of that with limited time and budget, but going green doesn't have to be difficult, time-consuming or expensive. In fact, a smart and savvy parent can go green and even earn green at the same time!

Would you ever consider SELLING your trash?   Do you think anyone would ever PAY for it? What if I told you that I found an amazing company that would? Terracycle pays schools, families, and communities to collect non-recyclable waste, which is then upcycled or repurposed to make fun, eco-friendly products like shower curtains, potted plants, and soon, baby bibs and diaper bags!  Amazing!

Well, obviously, Home Grown Families LOVES green!  We love green products, green ideas, green caring, green based in the US, and new green innovative products!  So, again, obviously, we LOVE TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/> !  Have you heard of TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/> , yet?  Chances are, you have seen their green products <http://www.terracycle.net/products>  whether you realized it or not.  I was at Wal-Mart a few months ago and noticed Capri Sun lunch boxes <http://www.terracycle.net/products/195-Capri-Sun-Rectangular-Lunch-Box>  but I didn't know about TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/> , yet.  I went back to check them out and sure enough it was a TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  product.

Well, obviously, Home Grown Families LOVES green!  We love green products, green ideas, green caring, green based in the US, and new green innovative products!  So, again, obviously, we LOVETerraCycle!  Have you heard of TerraCycle, yet?  Chances are, you have seen their green products whether you realized it or not.  I was at Wal-Mart a few months ago and noticed Capri Sun lunch boxes but I didn't know about TerraCycle, yet.  I went back to check them out and sure enough it was a TerraCycle product.