Calling all environmentalist...Are you a keen recycler? Do you wonder what to do with those hard-to-recycle materials like yoghurt pouches, coffee capsules and toothpaste tubes? Ahead of Earth Day later this month community members are being sought to sign up as recycling hubs to deal with just those items which would otherwise end up in landfill. TerraCycle, an eco-friendly recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling typically non-recyclable waste, is behind the scheme to grow the public drop-off network. The network comprises all kinds of locations, including schools, sports clubs, community centres, libraries, offices, and individual homes. The waste products are then recycled or upcycled rather than being incinerated or ending up in landfill. Items are shredded and turned into plastic pellets which can be used to make new items including playground equipment, fitness equipment and outdoor furniture. There are 233 active participants in North Canterbury for recycling programmes and about 18 drop-off points, most of which are florists collecting for the Nespresso Coffee Capsules Programme. As well as coffee capsules, other programmes available in New Zealand the Fonterra Pouch Recycling Programme, the GLAD Food Storage Recycling Programme and the Oral Care Recycling programme sponsored by Colgate. The programmes then give back to communities through a points scheme, raising money for a chosen school or not-for-profit organisation. Globally, TerraCycle works with more than 110 or the world's largest consumer goods brands to collect 75 different waste streams, including coffee capsules, toothbrushes, chewing gum and even cigarette waste. It operates in 20 countries and has over 60 million people participating globally in its programmes to collect waste and has diverted almost 5 billion units of waste from landfill and paid more than $15 million to charities and schools worldwide. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved, visit terracycle.com Northern Outlook_Apr 11