As we learn more and more about the environment and how we affect it, we must continue to look for ways to help protect our world’s future. Future generations are dependant on our ability to maintain or improve the land, water and air we inhabit. Recycling is a big part of that, and becoming more aware of different forms of recycling can be our next step. Composting has become a new trend that has helped save our fragile eco-system. Another recent trend has been TerraCycling, or upcycling. Using food wrappers and other packaging to create something new, instead of clogging up our landfills is a point of focus for TerraCycle. They also utilize plastics that aren’t easily recyclable, such as plastic, disposable cups.

One of the activities that many of Michigan Green Schools participate in is the recycling of used packaging and products such as chip bags, candy wrappers and juice pouches. The waste is collected through TerraCycle's Brigade program (www.terracycle.net), which pays the schools and nonprofits for their efforts and then recycles the material into cool products.

TerraCycle wants you to recycle everything, and they don't just mean everything that's "recyclable." The company is attempting to set up a system that takes in and recycles literally any kind of garbage -- including candy wrappers, leftover food, and tooth brushes -- and establish the system on a wide scale. And with Earth Day coming up, they're pushing the project even harder. "Our goal is to open in every country around the world and collect every type of waste," [founder Tom] Szaky said by phone between business meetings in San Francisco. "We have big ambitions to try to solve this for all. Our model works for every type of garbage so why not bring it to everyone?"

Big Rock Elementary has been participating in a program that utilizes many of the items that aren't typically recycled.  TerraCycle, a New Jersey company, pays for the items collected and turns them into a variety of other products.

During the 2010-2011 school year, Big Rock Elementary School students and teachers have raised approximately $150 by collecting items that would normally have been thrown away as trash.

Mildred student takes "green" challenge and becomes eco-product design finalist.

They collected things like foil pouches from their juice drinks and potato chip bags and send them off to a company called Terra Cycle in New Jersey.  The school gets money for the effort.  This year the students have been able to earn almost $200 dollars far.

    For Dylan Balcom, saving the planet is important enough to get involved in the most hands-on – and entrepreneurial – way he can.     “Not every 13-year-old boy drops off a box of trash to a UPS store,” the Charlestown teen admits with a wry grin. He’s started a program at his school to collect non-recyclable trash he sends to TerraCycle, a company based in New Jersey that donates 2 cents to Charlestown Middle School’s student council for each piece of waste.     The company uses the trash as the base materials of different products. Dylan has an impressive collection of these “upcycled” goods, which include lunch boxes and school supplies and often bear the logo of the snack company that produced the original, discarded packaging.     Dylan’s sister Alexis Balcom, 18, remembers discovering the program last year, the summer before Dylan started 6th grade.     “Mom and I were going back-to-school shopping and we found these folders that were made out of Lay’s (potato) chip bags,” she said. “I remember thinking it was perfect for Dylan because he was so interested in recycling and the environment.”     The folder had the company’s contact details on the back. “We spent that entire night surfing the website and setting up the account, and I just remember that he was really excited,” Alexis said.

Like any serious presidential hopeful, Albert James is already working on his campaign platform. Never mind that he can’t actually run until 2036. While he waits, Albert, a fourth grader at Park Lodge Elementary School, is busy coordinating his school’s TerraCycle program, a brigade to recycle products that are used in every home. He got the idea last fall from an advertisement on the back of a Capri Sun box. Intrigued by the prospect of raising money for his school, Albert set off on a mission. “He came to me and said ‘Mrs. Parrish, I really want to help the environment and help our school be better recyclers,’ ” said his teacher, Cathy Parrish.

Pack It Up The #1 best way that you can green your lunch is to pack it. Instead of using plastic or paper bags, you should choose a reusable lunch box. Why? According to the EPA, children who bring a bag lunch to school every day create about 67 pounds of waste by the end of the year! If you can imagine how many children are in school and how many people work every day, that’s millions of pounds of brown bag waste. Here are a few reusable lunch boxes that are great alternatives to bags: TerraCycle Drink Pouch Lunch Box, ACME Cotton Recycled Lunch Bag, Vy & Elle Lunch Bag, Mini Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar.