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I recently read an article that claimed our steps to going green, as a country and as a world, have not been as scalable as we imagine. A consumer can’t see the carbon footprint they leave, and this makes it challenging for them to realize how much of a difference they are actually making in cutting back and cleaning our atmosphere. Since the affects of a consumer’s efforts are essentially invisible, it is a challenge to both engage consumers and keep them in engaged in the green movement to be more. People are less likely to be adamant for a cause, or willing to make as big a sacrifice for that they can’t see, touch, and feel the effects of directly. Tangibility makes a difference. It follows logically that to engage consumers, the green movement needs make both the threats and rewards more tangible. Many companies, including TerraCycle partners Capri Sun, Bear Naked, and Clif Bar, rely on consumers to make environmentally friendly choices after they use a product. Instead of simply encouraging consumers to recycle – throw the packaging in a bin and then forget about it forever – they’ve started encouraging upcycling, with which consumers can see their reuse and recycling efforts firsthand.

The school works with an East Coast company whose goal is to eliminate waste by not only recycling but upcycling, the process of re-using items close to their original purpose. Students and staff of a Burr Ridge school are stepping up their efforts to be green by focusing on difficult-to-recycle products that, until now, ended up in the school's garbage cans. Trinity Lutheran School sends drink pouches, potato chip bags and cookie wrappers to TerraCycle in New Jersey, which recycles trash typically not recycled. The company has about 45 brigades worldwide of individuals and groups such as Trinity that collect and send garbage.

Spending time outdoors makes me hungry. That’s why picnics were invented. Who wants to have to go back INSIDE when you’re having so much fun OUTSIDE!? We have a cute picnic basket that, frankly, needs to see more sunlight. However, since it’s not insulated, I can only use it for quick trip-to-the-park picnics. For longer trips, I use an insulated cooler. Terracycle, Inc. sent us a roomy Ozark Trail 36 Can Cooler with Removable Hardliner. This particular cooler has a special hardliner – it’s made by Terracycle out of recycled Frito-Lay chip bags! And, it’s antimicrobial (no clue how that happens, but true!). The Ozark Trail Cooler from Terracycle has zipper and mesh pockets front and side pockets, as well as a 3″ expandable top for dry storage, so you don’t have to pack just cans. The 36-can size is perfect to hold one lunch for our family – we sit it between our seats, and I can grab snacks as we go and zip it back up! If we happen to stop, we don’t have to unpack the whole car, I just lift out the cooler and we’re ready to eat!

Summer is the season for outdoor parties and picnics, and it’s important to take care of the outdoors as you are enjoying it. Instead of filling up your trash can with empty food wrappers and plastic cups after guests leave, you can reuse the packaging yourself or send the waste to TerraCycle, where you can earn money for your favorite charity and keep things out of the local landfill at the same time. There are already some Brigade teams in the area, including Bentley School. TerraCycle, an innovative upcycling and recycling company, partners with brands such as Frito-Lay, Nabisco, Kraft Cheese, Solo, and Scott to reduce the amount of waste being thrown away. Some of the wrappers can also be used for do-it-yourself projects. An easy, crafty summer project is the do-it-yourself chip bowl, which can be made from a Frito-Lay chip bag, and then used for your next party! Or, you can turn your used Solo cups into herb planters for the porch or kitchen. For those who’d prefer to send their waste back to TerraCycle, they’ll earn two cents per item for a charity of their choice.

Recycle Today For anyone having a barbeque today, there is now a new way to recycle Non-recyclable trash. Send it for free to TerraCycle to be recycled. TerraCycle collects difficult-to-recycle food packaging such as Frito-Lay chip bags, Kraft Singles cheese packaging, Scott paper towel and napkin wrapping, and Solo plastic cups. Anyone can send in their used products and packaging to be upcycled and recycled. or every piece of packaging that TerraCycle receives, participants are awarded with two points, which can be put toward buying a specific charity gift or converted to money and donated to a charity of the participant’s choice. There are Brigade teams in your area, including Plymouth River School. To sign up, visit, www.terracycle.net.

Company encourages residents to send in weekend party trash. With 4th of July right around the corner, local resident are gearing up for a long weekend of barbecues and pool parties. But one company wants you to keep recycling in mind before throwing out the trash. TerraCycle, an up-cycling and recycling company, has teamed up with brands like Frito-Lay, Nabisco, Kraft Cheese, Solo and Scott to cutback on non-recyclable party trash just being dumped in the garbage. The company wants local residents to send their difficult to recycle food packaging like chip bags, paper towels and solo plastic cups to them instead.

The Fourth of July celebrations will be in full swing this weekend. As you plan your party, think about what you will do with all the trash that is leftover. Some of these items can be sent to TerraCycle, an upcycling and recycling company with a unique point of view. They want to “Outsmart Waste”. TerraCycle works with large companies such as Frito-Lay, Nabisco, and Starbucks to “eliminate the idea of waste”. The waste generated by these companies is collected by schools, church groups, and other organizations as well as indivduals. The “trash”, shipped free of charge, is then turned into backpacks, speakers, pencil cases and more which feature the brightly colored packaging. Other items are used to make pictures frames, floor tiles and plastic lumber. These items are available online at www.TerraCycleShop.com, with some items, such as their new cooler, soon to be available at Wal-Mart.

Be Green We were so excited to be contacted by TerraCycle to inform you of the opportunity to help your local community and environment while celebrating July 4th. At Birmingham Holiday Examiner, we are passionate about our environment and our community. As we prepare for outdoor fun and feasts, remember that there is another option for your trash and waste. TerraCycle aims to change our idea of waste by teaching us that much of what we determine as useless waste can benefit us all as a recycled item. The great thing about TerraCycle is that you can recycle these items for absolutely free. They provide boxes and labeling so you can just mail your contributions directly to them.