As both packaging professionals and consumers, we live lives dominated by packaging and its science. When we pick up a product at the grocery store or order something new online, we think about what the item itself is packaged in, how it was or will be sent to its destination, and what will happen to it after we use it. What are the possibilities? What are the limitations? 2012 brings an entire new year of searching for packaging solutions and creating new options for consumers and the eco-minded. Because we’re both producers and users of packaging, we see both sides of the problem: the science and the facts, and the problems consumers face in choosing a product with eco-friendly packaging, and employing the solutions available for that packaging. For 2012, I have four packaging resolutions for TerraCycle and five packaging resolutions for myself-something to think about as we head into the New Year. TerraCycle Resolutions 1. Work on the packaging of our own products, and solutions for the products themselves. As we evaluate and change our own habits and science, we can improve our processes and packaging along with the recycling solutions available to the consumer. 2. Help support the compostable packaging movement. In order for consumers to appreciate compostable packaging and compost it correctly, they need to understand how the packaging can be eco-friendly and learn to overlook the potentially noisy side effects. 3. Develop a TerraCycle composting solution for our partners. Some people aren’t interested in composting, even if their product packaging is compostable. Hopefully, the movement will grow, and we can support it by offering composting solutions for our partners in addition to our traditional TerraCycle processes. 4. Brainstorm new products to be made from the packaging we collect. The possibilities are endless, and we’re always excited about new ideas.

Nearly halfway through January, I’m still sorting out my resolutions. How about you? I wanted to come up with resolutions that are practical and viable, and will support not only TerraCycle, but my own habits and lifestyle in general. What can I do that melds TerraCycle, my house, and a recycling mission overall? Here’s what I’ve come up with so far: 1. Compost better, and compost more. It’s hard to keep an effective compost bin going when I’m traveling and don’t eat at home much. But in order to be able to maximize composting and really use it to make a difference, I need to step it up. Compostable packaging, which is beginning to become all the rage, is actually difficult to compost if a compost pile isn’t well managed and maintained. I want to be able to compost the compostable, and that will take my dedication. Don’t have the time or the room to compost on your own? Check out this guide on local sites that will do it for you: Earth 911’s Recycling Center search (you can search “compost”) or Findacomposter.com.

Just because you can't put something in the recycling bin doesn't mean it can't be recycled - send it to New Jersey's TerraCycle Inc., which specializes in unconventional recycleables. For retailers, getting customers in the door is the goal. The more touch points retailers can have with their customers, the more reasons customers have to visit.

Lorsque le déchet devient ressource, place à l’action ! Trieur d’Elite, petite association environnementale montée à Autrans a développé un réseau de collecte dans les écoles et les mairies du plateau du Vercors pour le recyclage des instruments d’écriture usagés (stylos avec bouchon, feutres, blancos, règles, tubes de colle…) et des CD/DVD.

Terracycle is a program that was started in the middle of the Fall 2011 semester here at SUNY New Paltz and has quickly gained recognition around campus. Terracycle is a company that sponsors the recycling of items that are not usually recycled such as chip bags, candy wrappers, drink pouches, etc. The three collection bins around campus are located on the first floor of the Student Union building, the first floor of Hasbrouck Dining Hall, and the Backstage Café at Parker Theater.

Thermoformed packaging such as blister packs and clamshells typically end up in landfills, even though many of them are made of PC PET, the material that is blow molded into soft drink and water bottles and highly recyclable. That’s a problem for manufacturers concerned about the sustainability of their products and product packaging. But realities of the economics of recycling will probably prevent the widespread recycling of thermoform-grade RPET for some time to come. (The “R” of RPET means the polymer comprises virgin material plus regrind, or recycled content.) In a pilot study conducted by thermoform packaging maker Dordan Manufacturing in Woodstock, Ill., the company shipped 50 of its RPET clamshells to a local recycling facility to determine how well the containers could be sorted. The automated waste-management facility that accepted the RPET samples sort different kinds of polymers using optics

Stuart Walker was so disgusted by the smell of recycling bins during his first day as a member of Kemptown Elementary School's recycling club, he said he felt like putting a clothespin on his nose. Now the fifth-grader is signing up for a second stint with the club.

Tim McNulty had a satisfying career in high tech sales in California’s Silicon Valley and he and his wife, Chi Park, had adventures living and working in Amsterdam and Germany. But after the birth of their two children, now six and four, something seemed to be missing and that was having family nearby. McNulty grew up in Minnesota and his wife grew up outside of Philadelphia—so the couple decided to move east to be closer to family. And since they were making such a big change in where they lived, Tim McNulty decided to make a change in where he worked,

Was kann man mit nicht recycelbarem Müll anfangen? TerraCycle zeigt es in einer Vielzahl von Möglichkeiten. Der Grundgedanke ist hierbei nicht recycelbaren Müll in recycelbaren umzuwandeln. TerraCycle sammelt den Müll in seinem  Programm “brigades” und wandelt diesen in neue Produkte um, angefangen von Recyclingparkbänken über recycelte Rucksäcke. TerraCycle gibt es auf der ganzen Welt. TerraCycles Gründer und Geschäftsführer Tom Szaky wurde in der Forbes-Impact-30-Liste genannt, welche Unternehmensgründer würdigt,die weltweit mit den dringendsten Problem ringen. In Deutschland startete TerraCycle im Frühjahr 2011 mit dem ersten Sammelprogramm für leere Stifte, welches von BIC gesponsert wird.

De kleuters van de Papschool in Tongeren zamelden zevenhonderd zestig pennen in en krijgt zo, via een Amerikaans bedrijf, geld voor een schoolproject. De Papschool aan de de Sint-Jansstraat in Tongeren is de winnaar geworden van een inzamelingsprogramma van het Amerikaanse bedrijf TerraCycle. De kleuters hadden zevenhonderd zestig pennen verzameld, wat vijftig euro opleverde voor een schoolproject rond milieu. 'Dat is niet het belangrijkste. Het is vooral het gedachtegoed achter het project wat ons aanspreekt', klinkt het in de school. In Belgie is het bedrijf in 2011, in samenwerking met pennenfabrikant Bic, gestart met het inzamelen van alle schrijfwaren. De Papschool behaalde hiermee, in december, 3.000 punten die ze kunnen inwisselen voor geld. 'De leerlingen zijn enorm trots en geen enkele pen of stift verdwijnt meer in de prullenbak. Dit is overigens niet het enige milieuproject', zeg juf Shana Moermans. 'Dit jaar staat voor de school in het teken van afvalbeperking. Zo worden er ook geen blikjes meer op de school gebruikt en promoten we de kringloopwinkel.' Het jonge Amerikaans bedrijf heeft als doel afval voor goed te veranderen (Eliminate the Idea of Waste; red). 'We organiseren landelijke inzamelingsprogramma's van moeilijk of niet-recyclebaar afval zoals kauwgom, pennen of drinkpakjes en geven dat afval een nieuwe kans door er duurzame producten van te maken", zegt Eytan Boosman van TerraCycle. Om deelnemers te stimuleren hun afval te verzamelen en op te sturen werkt de firma met een soort statiegeld, waarbij de deelnemer geld voor het afval krijgt waarmee een goed doel van eigen keuze kan worden gesteund. TerraCycle is momenteel in twintig landen actief en er worden meer dan zestig soorten afval ingezameld.