TERRACYCLE NEWS
ELIMINATING THE IDEA OF WASTE®
Transformers: Anti-litter passion leads to BUTTS
A crisp fall breeze breaks through the overwhelming musk of Montucky Cold Snacks and burning tobacco. A steady crowd fills the picnic benches lined up outside the East Side Denton bar, where it seems the whole town has come for a drink this Monday evening. It’s difficult to hear anything other than clinking beers and drunken laughs as the bartender serves another round to the table of college kids taking study breaks that are way too long.
A distracted gaze crosses Michael Kokkinakis’ face as he scans the pub, eyes begging for another hit when boom — spotted. Two tables over, a tall gentleman flicks his still-burning Camel cigarette onto the gravel, paying no mind as he cracks another mediocre joke to his colleagues who respond with forced laughter.
Gloves back on, Kokkinakis snakes his way through to the scene, picking up a few butts here and there. “Hey, buddy, I think you meant to throw this away,” he says as he hands the cigarette butt back to the man, who looks confused but nonetheless complies by tossing it into an ashtray.
Fast-forward a year, when the COVID-19 pandemic puts many things on pause but not these regular Monday evening festivities for Kokkinakis and his crew, who run Better Understanding Through Trash Service (BUTTS) by dedicating their time to sweeping the streets of Denton every week, searching for misplaced cigarette butts.
“When you see a piece of garbage float by, you can either care or not care,” Kokkinakis said. “You either do something about it or not do something about it.”
BUTTS dismisses the second choice as an option. This group of about 10 meets “every Monday, rain or shine” at 6 p.m. to collect trash left behind on the sidewalks and lawn that make up the downtown Denton Square.
“There’s a little shot of dopamine every time I see a cigarette butt, and I pick it up,” Kokkinakis said. “My eyes zoom into it.”
Come rain, shine or pandemic
When the pandemic first hit and lockdowns were put in place, the town grew extremely silent as many Denton businesses closed either temporarily or for good. Despite the ghost town feel, the crew never misses a Monday pickup and continues to commit to its service.
“It was interesting because there were fewer butts, which was nice — a little more boring, but it was a good thing,” said BUTTS co-founder Mary Poe. “It’s crazy that as things opened up, we would see more and more butts.”
Founded on Earth Day 2019, BUTTS has evolved into a force that not only takes care of the environment but also uplifts local activists and creatives. Founders Kokkinakis, Poe and Calvin Lebaron combined their passions for environmental sustainability to create a collective force that focuses not only on picking up cigarette butts but also on using their platform to elevate artists.
When the Black Lives Matter protests started on the Square early in the summer, there was restricted access to power outlets needed for speakers to amplify their voices, recalled Lebaron, so the group invested in a solar-powered generator to support the activists. “We thought the best way we could contribute was to give power to them,” he said.
On some of their Monday meetings, the crew invites local bands and musicians to perform on the Square as random pedestrians stop by to groove to the tunes of the week.
“It feels good to get out and feel like you’re doing something for the community,” Poe said.
Lebaron and Kokkinakis met in college and studied under the same classical guitarist. Their shared love for music blossomed into the unique group they established. The two paid homage to their beloved professor by creating music together and booking small gigs to share their passion, just as their professor did with them, Lebaron said. “Music is what brought us all together into BUTTS.”
Poe explained that several of the recruits for BUTTS are people who just happened to stumble across the crew during a downtown deep cleanse of cigarette butts. The crew has grown from just the trio of friends to more than a dozen members in over a year, though occasionally random people will pitch in.
“I’ve met a lot of friends just from people walking by who just come out and join us,” Poe said. “We call it our meditation time. You go off into your own world.”
On Saturday nights, the crew gets together to host small “raves” on the downtown Square where they jam for hours, inviting anyone to join from 7-10 p.m. and allowing more opportunities for musicians to showcase their talent.
“It allows everybody to be a part of the process,” Lebaron said. “It’s turned into this wonderful family of musicians, non-musicians and DJs.”
BUTTS Fest
Lebaron, Kokkinakis and Poe put their organizing skills to the test, planning what was meant to become the first BUTTS Fest, featuring more than 40 bands and art collectives. The festival, though more than ready to be celebrated, was scheduled to take place at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios in March 2020 but was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
“Everyone was so on board for this,” Kokkinakis said. “This was the biggest thing I had ever organized in my life. I was so excited for everyone to have a good time.”
The group has been planning a socially distanced outdoor music event for later this month as a belated Earth Day celebration. BUTTS Fest, billed as “A One (g)love Happening in Denton,” is slated for April 24 featuring bands including Helium Queens, Mother Tongues, Strays, Python Potions and No Good Babies, DJs and free masks. There’s a pre-party with DJs the night before, too.
The crew still dedicates every Monday evening to sweeping Denton streets for butts they will send either to a TerraCycle drop-off location or to reusable projects that will repurpose them for items such as sound panels for recording studios.
“It starts feeling better the more you do it, and then people start noticing,” Kokkinakis said. “It’s not just a little thing, it adds up.”
Home Spring Spruce with Shay Millheiser
Spring is a great time to deep clean and improve your home. Make is easy with these tips from DIY expert and TV host Shay Millheiser:
Vacuum from the couch with a Neato Robot Vacuum.
Spring cleaning isn't just for the home - organize your desktop with My Cloud Home.
Many people have improved their cleaning habits since the pandemic began. Keep it going with Windex Disinfectant Cleaner Multisurface.
Tired of storing old, mismatched food storage containers? Terracycle can recycle them, and it's as easy as printing a shipping! Then, start fresh with Rubbermaid Food Storage.
Learn more here.
Melitta lança cápsulas de café biodegradáveis e compostáveis
A Melitta está lançou no Brasil cápsulas de café biodegradáveis e compostáveis. As novas cápsulas são compatíveis com o sistema Nespresso e após o processo de compostagem, podem retornar para natureza como composto nutriente para o solo.
SLIQ Spirited Ice to make its packaging recyclable
Hard freezer pop SLIQ Spirited Ice has launched an initiative to make its packaging recyclable by partnering with TerraCycle.
The premium hard freezer pop is produced exclusively by 21 Holdings, a subsidiary of US-based food and beverage company Jel Sert.
The brand’s three core products, the Vodka, Agave and Rum flavours, are available at select retailers in the US, including Albertsons and Walmart.
Under the recycling programme, TerraCycle will freely recycle all empty SLIQ Spirited Ice plastic tubes sent by consumers.
Collected plastic packaging waste will be melted into hard plastic and used for making new recycled products.
Customers can sign up on the TerraCycle programme page online and send the waste in via post using the provided prepaid shipping label.
The recycling solution helps solve packaging waste and divert it from the landfill proactively.
SLIQ Spirited Ice senior brand manager Gavin Wegner said: “As we roll out our products nationwide, it has been a priority for us to find a sustainable solution that supports the brand’s convenience and ethos.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with TerraCycle to create sustainable and recyclable products that consumers can send in free of charge in exchange for rewards to charities of their choice.”
The initiative is in line with Jel Sert’s sustainability commitments outlined by its Environmental Improvement Team.
The company has pledged to optimise its shipping routes to lower fuel consumption, maximise equipment efficiency to reduce waste from production plants and corporate offices, and encourage the use of post-consumer recycled paper in packages.
Shop Our Editors' Favorite Sustainable Brands
No greenwashing here! These eco-conscious labels put the environment at the forefront of their businesses. In honor of Earth Day, check out what our favorite brands are doing to make a difference
By People Staff
April 16, 2021 12:13 PM
Products in this story are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission.
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Teva
The sporty, heritage sandal company that's rooted in outdoor adventure and has evolved into a hypebeast favorite in recent years has committed to reducing its carbon footprint in a big way.
In 2020, the straps across the entire footwear product line switched to a yarn made of recycled plastic. And this year the company partnered with TerraCycle on its new TevaForever Recycling program, which encourages Teva customers to mail in their retired sandals to TerraCycle at no cost. The shoes will then be deconstructed by manufacturers to make a number of new products including playgrounds, athletic fields and track ground cover, according to the brand.
Curious to learn morn? Check out actress Rosario Dawson's take on the recycling program. Spoiler: She's pumped!
Buy it! Teva Original Universal Sandal, $50; teva.com
This New Personal Care Brand Wants You to Throw Its Packaging Down Your Drain
Plus' Zero Waste Body Wash takes sustainability to the next level.
By Erin Lukas
Apr 16, 2021 @ 4:30 pm
Take inventory of the products you have in your shower. You probably have a handful of plastic bottles with pumps. And depending on where you live, you might be able to recycle the bottles curbside.
As for the pumps, well, those will have to be sent off to a recycling program like Terracycle, but more often than not, they end up in landfills.
According to Zero Waste Week, more than 120 billion units of packaging are produced globally each year by the cosmetics industry. So, what if you could declutter your shower and replace your personal care products with more eco-friendly options that perform just as well as the ones you've been using for years.
Meet Plus, a zero waste body care brand that's taking sustainability one step further, starting with body wash. Plus was created by Starface founder Julie Schott and Brian Bordainick, alongside co-founder and CEO Cathryn Woodruff.
"Every year in the U.S., 42.1 billion bottles are used to ship products that contain over 70% water," Plus said in an email release. "With this in mind, Plus is reimagining personal care and providing solutions that are better for you and the planet."
Body Wash is a no-bottle cleanser with a dehydrated formula that eliminates unnecessary water. It's formulated with nourishing ingredients like aloe leaf, sweet almond oil, shea butter, and ferulic acid that are suitable for all skin types. The body wash is also pH-balanced, vegan, cruelty-free, Leaping Bunny certified, and meets Credo Beauty standards. Plus has also left out fillers, suflates, parabens, and SLS and SLES surfactants, which can trigger reactions or allergies in some people.
There are two scents to choose from: Summer (neroli, orange, and lemon) and Waves (coconut, sea salt, and jasmine), along with Cloud, an unscented option.
The 100% dissolvable sachet packaging is made from wood pulp sourced from FSC forests and the ink is no-toxic, bio-newable, and FSA approved. And no, it won't stain your bathtub. It retails for $16.50 for 16 single servings of body wash, exclusively at cleanwith.plus and comes in a compostable pouch and shipping package.
To use, start by getting in the shower. Then, tear open the sachet with dry hands, drop it in the bottom of your shower and watch with amazement as it completely dissolves in a few minutes. Add a small amount of water to the body wash to help it lather, and then, do your thing.
Here's Plus' Body Wash in action:
The Review:
As a beauty editor whose job is to test the latest products on the market, I accumulate an extraordinary amount of waste — and I feel guilty about it. While brands have made strides to use more post-consumer materials and create refillable packaging, the shipping materials these products come in are sometimes still excessive. So, leave it to a former beauty editor (before starting Starface and Plus, Schott worked at Elle.com) to create a product that prioritizes sustainability in every stage of its lifecycle.
With all of the greenwashing that's happening within the clean beauty community, I jumped on a Zoom with Schott and Woodruff to get the details on Plus' sustainable efforts. Aside from that, I really wanted to know if the Body Wash's serving size is enough for someone like me who uses their body wash for shaving. Schott confirms it is, and says the brand had people of various body types and sizes test the product to ensure they're providing an adequate amount.
I'll admit I love the novelty of watching the sachet dissolve down my shower drain, but I'm equally impressed by the body wash itself. I let the tab soak into my loofah and had the perfect amount for cleansing and shaving my legs. Plus also produces an extremely rich lather, which I love, and the scent of Waves is fresh and subtle.
Overall, Plus creates a very pleasant shower experience, and if I didn't have to try other products for work, I could see myself 100% switching over to the brand's body wash sachets.
TerraCycle et Maître Coq, unis pour plus d'emballages recyclés
TerraCycle confirme son positionnement de "spécialiste des matériaux difficiles à recycler" en s'associant à Maître Coq, pour recycler tous les emballages de volaille, toutes marques confondues. Avis à tous: les deux partenaires cherchent des lieux où implanter leurs points de collecte.
New Ways Families With Kids Can Go Green
(StatePoint) Having kids can mean having a lot of stuff, not all of which is made from eco-friendly materials. However, if you’re like many parents, you want your children to have a clean, healthy planet to live in when they grow up. Going green while parenting might sound challenging, but it’s definitely not impossible. These tips and insights can help get you started:
Reusable Food Packaging
With a little creativity, you can ditch the plastic utensils, baggies and single-use beverage containers at lunchtime. To substantially reduce your family’s plastic waste, switch to organic, reusable lunchboxes featuring partitions and tightly-fitting, leak-proof lids. Keep kids hydrated with easy-to-clean stainless steelwater bottles or thermoses. Finally, rethink the types of products you buy most often. Rather than opting for snacks pre-packed in single-serving plastic, instead buy favorite items in bulk and wrap smaller portions in reusable, compostable wrapping.
Eco-Friendly Play
Some of your children’s favorite toy brands are already going green, making it easy to make playtime eco-friendly. One example of a leader in the industry is electronic learning toy company VTech, which is committed to sustainability and has plans to replace its fossil-based blister packaging with plant-based alternatives in 99% of its electronic learning products by 2025. Additionally, the brand is launching a variety of green electronic learning products later this year as part of its commitment to replace fossil-based plastics with sustainable alternatives by 2030.
New eco-friendly toy options from VTech include the Sort & Recycle Ride-on Truck, which not only highlights the importance of protecting the environment through play, but is made of 90% reclaimed plastic, as well as three new vehicles in the popular Go! Go! Smart Wheels line, all made of 85% plant-based plastic. Its LeapFrog line will include the Choppin’ Fun Learning Pot with food pieces made of 85% plant-based plastic while two new wooden toys, Touch & Learn Nature ABC Board and Interactive Wooden Animal Puzzle, will include wood from responsibly-managed forests certified by Forest Stewardship Council.
The brand’s partnership with TerraCycle also provides an easy way for consumers to recycle its electronic learning products. To learn more about VTech’s sustainability efforts, visit vtechcares.com.
Composting
Composting is a simple way to reduce waste and teach children about how they can positively impact the environment. Start by setting up a compost bin and work with your children to identify ingredients that can be added to it. A good compost recipe includes materials such as dry leaves, household waste like vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells, and a layer of soil. Add some water and watch as science comes to life. Kids will love seeing their compost turn to soil over time and allowing them to be hands on throughout the process teaches them the concept of recycling in a realistic and relatable way.
With a few simple tweaks, parents can make choices that better protect the environment, while setting a great example for kids.
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Photo Credit: (c) viafilms / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Clean Ocean Access hosting drop-off recycle events for boat shrink wrap
These events offer free and accessible recycling to Rhode Island residents.
by Ryan M. Belmore April 14, 2021
Clean Ocean Access (COA) is calling all boaters to save and recycle their shrink wrap at upcoming drop-off events.
These events offer free and accessible recycling to Rhode Island residents. Recycling your shrink wrap fuels COA’s effort to better understand and advance local recycling processes, gives your wrap a second life in new products, and preserves the capacity of the state’s Central landfill.
Join them at the following events:
- 05/01/21 | Second Beach, 474 Sachuest Point Road, Middletown RI | 8 AM – 12 PM
- 05/15/21 | ACT Farmers Market, 35 Dexter St, Newport, RI 02840 | 9 AM – 1 PM
- 06/05/21 | Transfer Station, 1670 Flat River Road, Coventry RI | 7:30 AM – 12 PM | Residents Only*