“We’re doing a lot of projects on campus at Westwood that can funnel us into being a green-certified school someday,” he says. “For example, we recycle Capri Suns for TerraCycle. Last year, we recycled bottles and cans with NexCycle and proceeds from that went to our fifth-grade science fund. We brought in close to $1,500 from recycled cans and bottles and helped five students go to science camp.”

Terracycle is a company that collects previously non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle waste and converts it into new products, ranging from recycled park benches to upcycled backpacks. They do this by creating waste collection programs, which are referred to as “Brigades”, for each particular waste item. The LIU Post Recycling Program is currently a member of 9 Brigades. These Brigades include: -Drink Pouch Brigade: Accepted waste includes aluminum drink pouches and plastic drink pouches such as Capri Sun, Kool-Aid Jammers, and Honest Kids. -Candy Wrapper Brigade: Acceptable waste includes individual candy wrappers, large candy bags, and multi-pack candy bags. -Cookie Packaging Brigade: Accepted waste includes cookie packaging like Oreos, Chips Ahoy, and Keebler Cookies. -Chip Bag Brigade: Accepted waste includes chip bags, tortilla chip bags, pretzel bags, etc. -Paired Shoe Brigade: Accepted waste includes pairs of women’s, men’s, and children’s shoes, which may include athletic sneakers, cleats, flats, high heels, dress shoes, boots, and fashion or casual sneakers. Unacceptable waste includes ski boots, roller skates, roller blades, ice skates, completely broken or ruined footwear, single shoes, rubber flip flops, and slippers. -Writing Instruments Brigade: Accepted waste includes pens, pen caps, mechanical pencils, markers, highlighters, and permanent markers. Pencils are NOT accepted. -Elmer’s Glue Crew Brigade: Accepted waste includes Elmer’s glue sticks, Elmer’s glue bottles, and Elmer’s glue tops. ONLY Elmer’s brands are accepted. -Scotch Tape Brigade: Accepted waste includes all plastic tape dispensers and plastic tape cores. -Solo Cup Brigade: Accepted waste includes specially marked plastic #6 cups. Please bring these items to the collection boxes located at the Hillwood Information Desk. For each item that is collected, Terracycle will donate 2 cents to LIU Post. This money will be added to LIU Post Recycling Scholarship. If you have any questions regarding our Terracycle collection efforts, please contact Raheem Barnes, the Student Coordinator of the LIU Post Recycling Program, at LIUPostRecycling@gmail.com For additional information about Terracycle, you may visit http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/

TerraCycle is a company renowned for turning trash into treasure. Here's an inside look at the graffiti-clad warehouse in Trenton, N.J. where much of the upcycling magic happens.Late last week, I had the pleasure of touring the Trenton, N.J. offices of TerraCycle, a “waste solution development” firm with the most admirable mission to "eliminate the idea of waste."