TerraCycle is an innovative company that not only pays charitable groups to collect nonrecyclables, but then upcycles these materials to make functional items like a gift setcontaining Circuit Board Coasters, a Clipboard and Picture Frame ($20) to help prevent more than 3-million tons of electronic waste from landfills.04-20-16--Long Island Weekly(Print)

As Earth Day approaches, many of us ponder whether we’ll be leaving our planet in better shape than when we inherited it. After reading the disturbing fact that by the year 2050 more plastic bottles will occupy the ocean than fish, it doesn’t seem like we’re doing a particularly good job.

The drink pouches, aluminum wrappers and food pouches will help earn money for the school through Terracycle, which provides free waste collection programs for hard-to-recycle materials. Those materials are then turned into affordable green products. “The profitability will depend on the amount of waste recycled,” Camp points out.

The Sea Otter Foundation and Trust, a nonprofit based in Westminster, is dedicated to recycling. Established in 2013, the organization raises funds for sea otter researchers, biologists and conservation initiatives while raising awareness in Colorado. This summer, the foundation won an award from TerraCycle for recycling efforts, specifically in the beauty care items category. To get involved, visit www.SeaOtterFoundationTrust.org.

The Terra Stone Plant Caddy is the perfect gift for the eco-conscious gardener. Crafted from recycled juice pouches through TerraCycle's Drink Pouch Brigade, the caddy utilizes empty drink pouches that would otherwise be thrown out. TerraCycle diverts tons of waste juice pouches annually and donates 2 cents to a charity or non-profit for each pouch collected.

Terracycle to the rescue again!

She had participated with her students in TerraCycle’s “Drink Pouch Brigade” recycling and fundraising program, which rewards groups who collect and send in used Honest Kids and Capri Sun juice pouches.

We have become a nation of consumers. We buy stuff, throw away the packaging that all of our stuff comes in and REPEAT. We are literally running out of landfills. In order to save our Earth we have to decrease our carbon footprint. Recycling the packaging from all of our stuff is a great way to start. Terracycle is the world's leader in upcycling and recycling previously non-recyclable post-consumer waste that would otherwise be destined for landfills.Terracycle has a complete line of affordable innovative products that were re-purposed from used packaging and 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!

Have you seen the store aisle for back to school?  There is so much there and hundreds of little and big sized crayons, papers, notebooks, backpacks, totes, etc... How do you decide what to buy? Do you take the kids and let them pick? Do you tackle the supply shopping solo for sanity? I take my youngest, but my teen can care less about shopping with me for supplies. We just do the clothing. I will find things on my own I know he will need. When in doubt, why not buy a product that has up-cycled the hard-to-recycle waste. Eco-friendly bags, lunch sacks and pencil cases from TerraCycle are fun and sport popular brands your child and teen love.