Every day, the majority of consumers buy, use and throw away packaged goods without giving that packaging a second thought.

First, of all, why would a park ranger climb up Mt. Katahdin just in case Jurek spilled some champagne and could be cited for littering? Secondly, ultra-marathoners, even champions and record breakers, rarely make the news.

With summer fast approaching, millions of people are eagerly preparing themselves for marathons, endurance competitions, and similar “extreme sport” events across the world. From Tough Mudder to the Ironman Triathlon, these massive competitions test the stamina and agility of people around the world every year.

Virtually everything you find on store shelves uses these materials in some form, and yet many of them are unrecyclable either because of their design or because the combination of materials used in their manufacturing makes them difficult to break down. But one company is steadily proving that it’s possible to recycle virtually everything we discard on a daily basis.

The Holistic Moms Network will present The Great Unrecyclable Challenge in honor of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodruff Family YMCA, 631 Orange Avenue. The group says there is a website called Terracycle.com that tells people how to recycle items not accepted in city recycling collections.

Today, TerraCycle is a highly-awarded, international upcycling and recycling company that collects difficult-to-recycle packaging and products and repurposes the material into affordable, innovative products. TerraCycle is widely considered the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable, post-consumer waste. The Environmental Committee is creating opportunities for Park Slope Coop members to be a part of this great opportunity to RECYCLE even more products.

Have your kids shown an interest in the recycling movement?  We recently had the opportunity to check out these neat bags from TerraCycle and while I was surprised at first (didn’t expect it to be quite so “recycled”) they are a ton of fun and my daughter just loves them! We got the Goodness Grapeness shoulder strap bag which she has used on several beach trips so far!  She also got this fun pencil case (pictured above) that is made out of recycled Capri Sun packages.  How fun is this?!  Plus, it is a large sized pencil case so you can fit a complete box of pencils plus more inside of it!

One of our favorite school items from The Ultimate Green Store is the Terracycle Clif Kid Z Bar Upcycled Backpack, a unique backpack made from upcycled snack bar wrappers! The Terracycle company launched a campaign to reduce landfill waste, fashioning this sweet bag from the wrappers of Clif Kid Z Bar Health Bars. Not to worry, the used wrappers are fully sanitized before undergoing their transformation, and it is a great use for waste that is otherwise not recyclable. Better yet, the material is water-resistant, yet easily cleaned with a damp sponge. It’s roomy and equipped with an adjustable handle, for all your tot’s school day adventures.

TerraCycle, a upcycling and recycling company, makes eco-friendly products from trash items that are normally non-recyclable, including Capri Sun juice pouches, Frito-Lay chip bags, and Mars candy wrappers. Many of the products could make great holiday gifts for crafty types who are also eco-minded.

When it's time to purchase a new backpack for school, why not go green? TerracCycle offers a unique backpack made out of wrappers that many of us just throw away.