TerraCycle is an awesome program designed to help control the amount of waste produced from everyday items. They actually pay mothers, daycare centers, and schools for their waste which is then upcycled into rad products like backpacks, bird feeders, KITES, and bike pouches. Um, how freaking cool is that? I was seriously blown away by the amount of trash that one tiny baby can create- baby food jars/lids, diaper boxes and plastic wrap, little baggies for this and that...unfortunately, the list goes on. TerraCycle has partnered with major companies like Huggies and Sprout Organic Baby Food (who pay for the costs of the program which = 100% free everything for participants! WIN!) and they need your diaper packaging and food pouches (any brand) so that they can start turning them into things like bibs, diaper bags, and cosmetic cases.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, Our Daily Green would like to celebrate a company that is taking huge steps to free our nation from trash. Last summer, we wrote about the company TerraCycle and their unique way of helping organizations raise money with trash. TerraCycle is a New Jersey based company that turns items such as juice bags, candy and chip wrappers, and glue bottles into funky, fun school and office supplies and other novelties.

A large-scale drive at C. Richard Applegate School will ensure that almost 6,000 drink pouches never hit a landfill, thanks to a band of fifth-graders who wanted to help their community. David Lundy, 11, and a group of classmates -- Jordan Cerio, 10; Kelly Preston, 11, and Ella Kemp, 11 -- recently organized a large drive in which students were encouraged to donate used Capri Sun, Kool-Aid and Honest Kids drink pouches.    The pouches would then be given to the "upcycling'' company Terra Cycle, which collects trash such as drink pouches, candy wrappers and even used writing instruments to make backpacks, laptop cases and other products. What's more, Terra Cycle pays for the waste material they take in -- for example, two cents for every drink pouch they receive.

We've blogged about TerraCycle before but they're continuing to make headlines. If you're unfamiliar with TerraCycle, they donate cash to charities in exchange for your cigarette butts, razors, expired pills, plastic food wrappers, etc, find new uses for them, and sell those products for a profit. See how they're doing all this while turning an enormous profit, after the jump.   TerraCycle already has their trash collecting and recycling operations in six countries and plans to launch in 11 more. TerraCycle is currently a $40 million company but owner Tom Szaky hopes they can become the "Google of garbage", according to an article in the Telegraph.

The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park is collecting non-recyclable items as part of a promotion to reduce waste and to raise money for various programs. Items being collected are: candy wrapper packaging from Mars/Wrigley or Cadbury; empty drink pouches from Honest Kids, Capri Sun and Kool-Aid; and empty Elmer’s glue bottles and sticks. For each item sent in, the Friends receive 2 cents. Those interested in volunteering should contact the group for further instructions at 718-601-1460, or go to www.vancortlandt.org. The program is done in conjunction with Terracycle, an eco-friendly group that “upcycles” the collected materials into new, ecofriendly and affordable products. For more information, go to http://www.terracycle.net.

In 2007, Honest Kids and Terracycle joined together to create the first Drink Pouch Brigades, helping to make a positive impact on the environment by reducing waste throughout our communities and teaching kids about sustainability.

For a limited time only, sign up and save with this printable coupon for $0.75 off any carton of Honest Kids organic drink pouches. Available in Berry Berry Good Lemonade, Goodness Grapeness, Tropical Tango Punch, Appley Ever After and Super Fruit Punch. The pouches, recyclable by TerraCycle too!

TerraCycle and Honest Kids joined together back in 2007 to create the first Drink Pouch Brigades, helping to make a positive impact on the environment by reducing waste throughout our communities while teaching kids about sustainability.

Channel 1 News Profiles TerraCycle and Its Brigades.

Here is just an Example of the points amounts & prizes: TerraCycle Pencil Pouch=300 Points HappyBaby Coupons=500 Points $25 Target Gift Card=1,000 Points