TerraCycle Juice Pouch Brigade in the schools.
The brigade is another one of those win-win-win propositions. The kids recycle their juice pouches at conveniently located receptacles within the schools, the schools get $0.02 per pouch that goes to TerraCycle, and TerraCycle turns the pouches into totes, backpacks, pencil cases, lunch bags – in total, 185 items for the home, office, garden, pets, school and more.
Besides the first place winners each winning a $100 savings bond, donated by PNC Bank, all of the contest winners (first through third place) each won a prize donated by TerraCycle.
McMurrer rode the momentum from last year's contest even further, as she used the impetus of the contest to start, with the help of local mom Karen Baker, the TerraCycle Juice Pouch Brigade in the schools.
The brigade is another one of those win-win-win propositions. The kids recycle their juice pouches at conveniently located receptacles within the schools, the schools get $0.02 per pouch that goes to TerraCycle, and TerraCycle turns the pouches into totes, backpacks, pencil cases, lunch bags – in total, 185 items for the home, office, garden, pets, school and more.
Five bins and food tumbler keep waste, packages out of landfill.
A few times per month, a separate set of students get together to count the plastic bags and juice containers that students drop off at the end of lunch. The school sends the waste materials to TerraCycle, a New Jersey company that fashions a range of products — including toys, backpacks and pet products — from the waste it receives as part of the company’s Upcycling program.
“It saves the trash from going to the landfill,” said 10-year-old Vincent Scott.
When students have collected 500 juice pouches, cleaned them and packed them, the school mails them to TerraCycle. The schools gets 2 cents apiece in return, and TerraCycle pays the postage.
All items that TerraCycle accepts to upcycle into new products will now be collected at five Walmart stores on the East Coast, the first retail outlets to test the new collection system, according to Green Biz.
All told, the new collection system will accept 28 types of trash that can’t be recycled and would otherwise go to landfills, which TerraCycle turns into new products such as tote bags, plant pots, backpacks, pencil cases and portable speakers.
Piñon Elmentary School PTO President Gloria Brehm introduced Terracycle to the school last year and the results have been significant.
Three thousand juice pouches have been given to TerraCycle, a company that turns non-recyclable waste into eco-friendly products.
Additionally, 1,000 chip bags have been shipped to the company. The PTO does receive a small fee for its waste. For instance, the PTO receives 2 cents per juice pouch and has earned a total of $60.
Although with bins collecting trash at Canyon Vista Pool and Piñon Park Pool, more money could be raised. Brehm said the students have really caught on to depleting the amount of garbage that is sent to the landfill.
Piñon Elmentary School PTO President Gloria Brehm introduced Terracycle to the school last year and the results have been significant.
Three thousand juice pouches have been given to TerraCycle, a company that turns non-recyclable waste into eco-friendly products.
Additionally, 1,000 chip bags have been shipped to the company. The PTO does receive a small fee for its waste. For instance, the PTO receives 2 cents per juice pouch and has earned a total of $60.
Although with bins collecting trash at Canyon Vista Pool and Piñon Park Pool, more money could be raised. Brehm said the students have really caught on to depleting the amount of garbage that is sent to the landfill.
