Terracycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>   is always coming up with fun and cool ways to recycle, but they also  have come up with a way (actually 6 ways) Moms can go green, reduce  waste at home, AND raise money for their kids school and/or favorite  charity. Terracycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  realizes Moms have enough things to think about  without wondering how to reduce the amount of waste leaving their home  and heading to the local landfill. So they have come up with six new  Brigades (read as free collection programs!) to make it easier than ever  for parents to eliminate waste from their home while raising money for a  school or charity of their choice. All they need to do is collect and  send in the packaging you discard every day, TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  pays the postage  and contributes two cents per unit of waste returned. I keep mine in a  bag by the pantry next to the bag for Box Tops to make things easier.

Eco-friendly crafts are items made out of recycled materials.  There are fun and unique craft projects to create and earn money for your school or non-profit organization using recycled products. TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  is an eco-friendly company that uses certain types of would-be-waste materials to make new products.  Some of the examples of items they create are tote bags that are sewed together and made out of Capri Sun pouches. The great thing is that they receive their waste from schools all across America in a "trash for cash" fundraising program. TerraCycle  <http://www.terracycle.net/> has collected over 50,000 pieces of waste from Milwaukee and kept it out of the landfills.  Over $1,000 has been paid to various Milwaukee schools and non-profit organizations. Milwaukee German Immersion School <http://www2.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/german_imm/>  has collected the most with over 18,000 pieces of waste that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. Here is a recycled craft pattern that Terracycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  has given permission to post. To learn more about the program check out www.TerraCycle.net <http://www.TerraCycle.net>  .

TerraCycle is an eco-friendly non-profit organization that recycles would-be rubbish and turns it into a new product. Going green will not only help the Earth, but with this organization it can bring some cash (or coins) to your pocket. Emily Bradford, publicist for TerraCycle explains, “We get the waste items that we use to make our products from individuals and schools all across America in our ‘trash for cash’ fundraising program. We pay any non-profit organization, chosen by the person or team collecting, $0.02 for each piece of waste we receive.”

Guest post by: Tiffany Threadgould, TerraCycle’s Chief Designer Upcycle your toothpaste tubes into this fresh bathroom caddy Looking for a refreshing alternative to throwing away your toothpaste tubes? This easy do-it-yourself project upcycles your empty tubes into a simple toothbrush holder. Upcycling materials like these are a great way to reuse without costing a mint. Materials : 5 empty toothpaste tubes scissors ruler clear tape hole punch ribbon or plastic lanyard binder clips

Over the years I have expressed my love of creative recycling. While I do share a large variety of craft projects using trash, no one can certainly make crafts using all of their trash. I discovered a wonderful alternative to crafting with your own trash. You can send it away to be crafted by others. There is an eco-friendly company called TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  that uses certain types of would-be-waste materials to make new products. For example, they take Capri Sun pouches or Frito Lay potato chip bags and make tote bags out of them. They get all of the 'trash' to make their products from individuals and schools all across America as part of their 'trash for cash' fundraising program. They pay any non-profit organization, chosen by the person or team sending in the 'trash', $0.02 for each piece of trash they receive. Voila, you can get cash from your trash!

I t’s back-to-school time and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the shopping you have to do, especially if you want to be eco- friendly. you needn’t worry. Companies like TerraCycle are making back-to-school shopping and green living compatible and easy.

Looking for a refreshing alternative to throwing away your toothpaste  tubes? This easy do-it-yourself project upcycles your empty tubes into a  simple toothbrush holder. Upcycling materials like these are a great  way to reuse without costing a mint.

This article has been contributed by Tiffany Threadgould, TerraCycle’s Chief Designer. TerraCycle makes affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. Looking for a refreshing alternative to throwing away your toothpaste tubes? This easy do-it-yourself project upcycles your empty tubes into a simple toothbrush holder.  Upcycling materials like these are a great way to reuse without costing a mint.

OK I admit it.  I LOVE trash!  I love seeing that Upcycle It! barrel filled to the brim at the Farmers Market.   It certainly shows Westford's support and commitment to sustainability. Many of us are parents. Seems like the “green bug” bites a little harder when you look at those tiny faces.  TerraCycle has a few new Brigades ideal for parents. Which would you like to see us join? 1) The AVEENO Beauty Brigade – ANY brand and ANY type of personal care beauty tubes. Examples include lotion, sun tan lotion, face wash tubes, body wash tubes. A tube is a container that is crimped at one end and has an opening at the other. 2) The SCOTT Brigade – the outer plastic from ANY brand of paper towel, napkin, toilet paper or similar paper products – no paper wrappings 3) The HUGGIES Brigade – the outer plastic on ANY brand of diaper/personal product packaging; excluding boxes and bins (from baby wipes). Examples would be the overall outer plastic package wrapping on diapers, depends, pull ups, pads, etc.  Does not include the clear plastic wrapping inside a box of diapers. 4) The Home Storage Brigade – This brigade includes ANY size storage bags (freezer, storage, regular, sandwich) and containers. We would need to remove any crumbs and pieces of food, but stuck on ingredients (i.e. peanut butter) are acceptable. 5) The Neosporin Tube Brigade – Any size Neosporin brand antibiotic and ointment tubes 6) The Sprout Brigade – Sprout baby food pouches; excluding glass baby jars.

This is a guest post from Tiffany Threadgould, TerraCycle’s <http://www.terracycle.net/>  Chief Designer. Looking for a refreshing alternative to throwing away your toothpaste tubes? This easy do-it-yourself project upcycles your empty tubes into a simple toothbrush holder. Upcycling materials like these are a great way to reuse without costing a mint.