Earlier this fall—well before Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the New Jersey coast and changed the conversation about climate disruption and its consequences—the Sierra Club's New Jersey Chapter and recycling pioneer TerraCycle teamed up to do a beach cleanup in the coastal community of Belmar. The Belmar beach cleanup was organized in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup Day, which the conservancy has mobilized for the last 25 years. More than 52 million cigarette butts have been collected from beaches on cleanup days over that span. "Eighty-five volunteers collected over 4,300 cigarette butts, 700 bottle caps, 600 wrappers, and 330 straws off the beach," says New Jersey Chapter organizer Nicole Dallara. "The discarded cigarette butts were then sent to TerraCycle, which 'upcycles' them into new products like shipping products, plastic lumber, railroad ties, and other items after the waste gets converted into plastic pellets." Trenton-based TerraCycle, whose motto is "Eliminate the Idea of Waste," has created more than 40 waste collection programs, or "brigades," one of which is the Cigarette Brigade, which it operates in partnership with the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, makers of American Spirit cigarettes. "You don't have to walk or drive very far to see that smokers often discard cigarette waste in ways that litter the environment," Cressida Lozano, head of sales and marketing for Santa Fe, told The Trentonian newspaper. "We're proud to be the exclusive sponsor of an innovative program to reduce and recycle cigarette butt litter, regardless of which manufacturer made the cigarettes." Many of TerraCycle's brigade programs, including the Cigarette Brigade, offer free shipping, and in many cases the company will make a donation to participants for each piece of garbage they collect. "You can collect all parts of extinguished cigarettes and ship them to TerraCycle to be recycled, and they'll pay for the shipping, so it's completely free," says Dallara, pictured at left. "All you have to do is sign up and join one of their brigade programs. And now that the New Jersey Chapter has participated in International Coastal Cleanup Day, TerraCycle wants to work with other Sierra Club chapters as well."

They account for 38 percent of all roadside litter by count, according to one study, and they're the most commonly picked up item during an annual coastal cleanup. Cigarette butts are truly nasty piece of trash, but a new program from TerraCycle seeks to collect and recycle this ubiquitous garbage. With funding from Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. (makers of American Spirit-brand cigarettes), New Jersey-based TerraCycle, a company that finds ways to recycle difficult-to-recycle materials, has a found a way to keep cigarette butts from landfills. Under the Cigarette Waste Brigade, people can sign up to collect all parts of extinguished cigarettes, including filters, partial cigarettes, outer plastic packaging, inner foil packing, rolling paper, loose tobacco pouches and ash. Brigadiers put the cigarette refuse into a plastic bag, put it in a shipping package, log onto TerraCycle's website to print out free shipping labels and then send the butts off to be recycled.  Individuals, nonprofit groups, as well as restaurants and other businesses can sign up for the program. As with other TerraCycle brigades, participants can send their refuse in to TerraCycle, and the company will direct money to a school or charity of the participants' choosing. However, with the Cigarette Waste Brigade, TerraCycle will send a dollar to Keep America Beautiful for every pound of cigarette refuse received. TerraCycle adopted this arrangement out of concerns that participants would be incentivized to smoke to support a school or charity under its usual terms. TerraCycle estimates that a pound is equivalent to a thousand cigarette butts. The collected waste will be recycled into a variety of industrial products, such as plastic pallets, and any remaining tobacco will be re-worked into tobacco composting.

UW-Whitewater senior Samantha Robinson acts as a voice for animals who can’t speak on their own behalf. Robinson’s work at The Humane Society of Jefferson County has given abandoned animals much needed love and attention. Robinson, a Helping Hands student organizer, said she hopes to have a shelter of her own someday. She knows the importance of being a volunteer at the shelter, because she has helped out at the Jefferson shelter for close to three years. “The huge thing about volunteers is the fact they spread the word of mouth to come help out at the shelter,” Robinson said. “It helps bring in donations and has literally saved some of these animal’s lives.” The organization is helping the shelter with a TerraCycle project. TerraCycle is a small U.S. business that turns packaging from common household items into new products to help eliminate waste. The shelter receives money from this organization by sending in certain items.

Oenophile parents will adore this corkboard made from actual recycled wine corks.  It provides the perfect place to pin a shopping list or a photo of their favorite child - you!

The perfect bag is light, water resistant, and stain resistant and TerraCycle has it. The company has created toiletry cases, tote bags, and lunch sacksfrom recycling tent material. Each item is made from a different tent part, giving it a distinctive, custom design. The lightweight material won’t weigh down you or your suitcase, and makes the bags practical for any trip – to the mountains or on business.

I am a big fan of recycling and Upcycling. Now many people do not even know what that term means, Upcycling. Basically it is like recycling, where you are saving something from the being thrown away and ending up in a landfill by reusing it,  but with Upcycling you are turning it into a new, more stylish item. Many crafters do this at home, and have a ton of fun doing it, making beautiful items. Well, 2001 a company called TerraCycle came on the scene and turned this Upcycing into a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved. Here is what they do: People send in certain items they are looking for, stuff people are going to be thrown into the trash. The people sending them in receive money towards the non-profit of their choice: their school, church, charity, as long as it is a non-profit organization. TerraCycle turns the items into trendy items, like lunch boxes, back packs and other school supplies, scrapbooks and speaker boxes, and practical items like fences, coasters, and garden supplies.Honestly, what I mentioned does not even begin to touch on all of the things that they make. The materials they are using are growing and items that they are  making just continues to grown and that means more and more things trash staying out of the landfills each year, plus more and more non profits adding money to their causes. As you can see I love TerraCycle. I have loved them for a long time, since I saw my very first Capri Sun drink pouch and knew how green this company was. These days you can find quite a few of the Terracycle products around my house. And I think they would make amazing holiday gifts for just about anyone on your list. Kids will love the fun designs made from candy wrappers, chip bags, and juice boxes. There are great items that are appropriate for teens and adults, too. With unique items like tote bags, lunch sacks, toiletry cases and travel pouches which are made from repurposed USPS mail bags and old tents that were destined for the trash. All USPS and tent products will be available online at Uncommon Goods. The Upcycled Tent DOPP Kit  is made from piece of manufactured tent and scraps and the clip, closures, and zippers are the like those used in the tents used in camping, giving it an authentic feel. Since it is made from true tent material, on the inside and outside, it is very durable. The inside has 3 zippered pockets that can hold everything you need for your trip or even just to keep things organized at home. And even though people do not usually think of gardening in the winter, indoor plants still need care. TerraCycle had both indoor and outdoor gardening items. The watering can offered from TerraCycle may seem like just a normal can, but it is made from recycled Bare Naked Wrappers. Just another way to keep all that trash out of the landfills, while keeping your garden watered and blooming beautifully. TerraCycle products are available at a wide range of major retailers from WalMart to Target as well as online sites, such as Uncommon Goods. I hope you will look at the other amazing products that are available from Terracycle, and include them on your Holiday list. Also, please consider looking into the TerraCycle’s recycle program to earn money for your school or charity.

In honor of Recycle America, beauty product lines that recycle and have recycling programs America Recycles Day, November 15, is a day that is dedicated to promoting recycling across the country. In case you missed it, don’t fret. You can still participate in recycling all year around. Many cosmetics companies are now committed to conserving our resources, increasing efficiency and reducing pollution by offering smart recycling programs. Join the fight to keep cosmetics packaging out of our landfills. Here are some popular beauty product lines that recycle. Garnier Garnier has teamed up with TerraCycle, a company dedicated to recycling waste, in order to recycle and reuse cosmetics packaging. Consumers can join the Personal Care and Beauty Brigade to recycle items such as used lipstick tubes, mascara tubes, nail polish bottles, shampoo bottles, conditioner bottles and eyeliner pencils. The material will be reused to create environmentally-friendly playgrounds throughout the United States.

There are tons of companies and individuals trying to capitalize on the recycling trend. Terracycle is taking that trend to another level. They are recycling waste products or upcycling to create new products while reducing the products that would normally just go to a landfill.

Products include traditional garden supplies like a Terra Stone Plant Caddy retailing for $14.99, the Eco-Terra Watering Can for $11.99 and TerraCycle’s trademark All-Purpose Plant Food for $4.99 – $32.00 at major retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, independent garden centers and online. Another classic TerraCycle product line includes school products including backpacks, lunch bags, pencil cases, notebooks, binders and more!

One of our most interesting gifts include foldable, portable and lightweight Eco-Speakers for $19.99, made from upcycled trash to tuneful treasure. Other unique items include tote bags, lunch sacks, toiletry cases and travel pouches made from repurposed USPS mail bags and upcycled tents. All USPS and tent products will be available online at www.uncommongoods.com. Lunch sacks will retail for $37.00, dopp kits for $38.00, and tote bags for $46.00. The Coin Pouch, Tote, and iPad Case will retail from $14.00 – $84.00.

For my review, we received the Capri Sun Rectangular Lunchbox, M&M’s Eco Speakers, and the Upcycled Tent Dopp Kit.

TRENTON — Trenton-based recycler Terracycle is making no butts about it, they’ve got big changes coming their way thanks to a new partnership with a cigarette manufacturer. The recycler announced last week that it has teamed up with Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, makers of Natural American Spirit cigarettes, to launch a program aimed at collecting and recycling cigarette waste. The cigarette waste, according to a release from Terracycle, can be seen littered about in nearly every public place from sidewalks and roadways, to parks and shopping malls. Cigarette waste is a pervasive form of litter that Terracycle, along with the help of its new partnership, has led to the development of a creative solution to make use of discarded cigarette butts. “You don’t have to walk or drive very far to see that smokers often discard cigarette waste in ways that litter the environment,” said Cressida Lozano, the head of sales and marketing for SFNTC in a release. “Our company has been committed to environmental sustainability since we were founded 30 years ago, and we’re proud to be the exclusive sponsor of an innovative program to reduce and recycle cigarette butt litter, regardless of which manufacturer made the cigarettes.” According to the release issued by Terracycle, over 52 million cigarette butts were collected from beaches during the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Day in the past 25 years. Terracycle aims to turn the previously undesirable cigarette butts into items like shipping products, plastic lumber, railroad ties and other industrial items after the waste is converted into plastic pellets. Zakes said that while the plastic pellets are carcinogen and toxin free, Terracycle declined to turn them into consumer products based on the stigma that cigarettes carry. Instead, the company decided that the pellets could be used to make industrial products. One of these products, which the company had on display at its offices were plastic shipping pallets, which Zakes told The Trentonian are more durable than wooden pallets that are prone to breakage. According to Terracycle the cigarette butts are processed in the town of Portland, Pa., which is located in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. The company said that the paper and remaining tobacco will be composted, while the largely plastic filter medium is melted down and converted into a toxin-free plastic pellet that will eventually be used to create new products, which according to Zakes would have previously called for the use of virgin material, meaning companies would be creating more new plastic. Despite the stigma based around cigarettes, Terracycle ensured that the raw pellets are safe and toxin free by treating them to a round gamma radiation. “People might think that (gamma radiation) is a scary thing,” said Zakes. “But it’s not, it’s the same process used to kill bacteria like salmonella in food.” At the Terracycle lab on New York Avenue, samples of similar pellets were displayed along with products that they could be transformed into. Among the products on display were parking space dividers and plastic sheeting created from a similar pellet material. The shift to creating plastic pellets is what Zakes called a “game-changer” for the company as it allows them to become a supplier to other businesses that will create products from the recycled raw material. Terracycle said the program which they refer to as the Cigarette Waste Brigade, is free to participate in and will help to divert cigarette butts from landfills. Those who wish to participate and are over the age of 21 can sign up on the company’s website at www.Terracycle.com. Once they have signed up and created an account to be a part of the Cigarette Waste Brigade, they can collect butts from ashtrays and ash receptacles, place them into a plastic bag, which also will be recycled, and place the collected waste into a shipping box. After enough waste has been collected participants can sign into their account and print a prepaid UPS shipping label to return their box. Once the box is received, and the contents weighed, participants will earn credits that will be donated to Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit community action and education organization. According to Terracycle the credits break down to about $1.00 per pound, which equates to about 1000 cigarette butts. “This is one of the most exciting developments in Terracycle’s history,” Szaky says. “As a company committed to recycling waste streams that others deem worthless or unsavory, cigarette waste will help to promote our belief that everything can and should be recycled” In addition to recycling cigarette waste, the company said it is working on transforming other harder-to-recycle items like diapers and chewing gum. With the partnership with Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company has just launched in the United States Cigarette Waste Brigade, the company has also launched the program in Spain, Germany and Canada and said they’re working on further worldwide expansion.

When shopping for the “green” friend or loved one, it’s important to remember their ultimate concern is reducing waste. However, that is no excuse to not buy a gift. Instead, give a high quality gift they are guaranteed to appreciate or, alternatively, a gift made from recycled materials. Here are five affordable TerraCycle products available at select Walmart and Target stores and online. Coin Pouch

• Recycled Material: USPS Mail Sacks
• Price: $14.00
• Description: This pouch is super sturdy and can hold a number of small items such as money, makeup, and small accessories.Each piece is custom handmade from a distinct mail sack and will differ in terms of graphics. Perfect gifts for the eco-fashionista who loves unique and one-of-a-kind accessories.

Backpack

• Upcycled Material: Capri Sun Pouches
• Price: $21.99
• Description: These fun school supplies are sure to get attention from classmates. The sight of the familiar juice pouches will make any co-ed nostalgic of their grade school days! These are exciting gifts for the cutesy co-ed who loves attention.

Speaker Set 

• Recycled Material: M&M’s Wrappers
• Price: $16.99
• Description: A very practical gift for any co-ed—the “green” aspect is only a plus! This portable speaker set is made from 80 percent recycled materials and folds for easy storage. The 3.5 mm universal plug works with your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, laptop, or computer. Available at Radio Shack.

Travel Toiletry Case

• Upcycled Material: Tents
• Price: $38.00
• Description: Each unique piece is custom handmade from different parts of a tent. Perfect for the on the go, eco-friendly man in your life.

Corkboard

• Upcycled Material: Wine Corks
• Price: $19.99
• Description: This classy gift will sparkle in any co-eds dorm room. If she needs a place to hang her to-do list, study guides, and family photos, why not make it eco-friendly?