When I was young, an older schoolmate told me paper gum wrappers were edible. She said that if you pop the whole stick in your mouth, wrapper and all, the paper would just disappear. Later that night, I unwrapped a stick of gum and suspiciously put only the wrapper in my mouth. I waited and chewed a bit, but it didn’t dissolve. It seems my schoolmate was either mashing up the paper wrapper in the stick of gum and didn’t notice a difference or she was just messing with me. I thought of the gum wrapper when I read this article about WikiCells, a form of edible packaging developed by Harvard professor David Edwards. Unlike the flavorless, “disappearing” gum wrapper, WikiCells add flavor and nutrients that compliment whatever is contained inside. According to WikiCells, “This skin may be comprised primarily of small particles of chocolate, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, or many other natural substances.” They are mainly used to package soft foods, such as ice cream, yogurt, cheese or beverages. This got me thinking about using edible packaging for more than just soft foods. A lot of things have been made in edible versions – necklaces, tableware, under garments, even shoes – but they are mostly novelty items or prototypes that haven’t taken hold in a meaningful way.

When I was young, an older schoolmate told me paper gum wrappers were edible. She said that if you pop the whole stick in your mouth, wrapper and all, the paper would just disappear. Later that night, I unwrapped a stick of gum and suspiciously put only the wrapper in my mouth. I waited and chewed a bit, but it didn’t dissolve. It seems my schoolmate was either mashing up the paper wrapper in the stick of gum and didn’t notice a difference or she was just messing with me. I thought of the gum wrapper when I read this article about WikiCells, a form of edible packaging developed by Harvard professor David Edwards. Unlike the flavorless, “disappearing” gum wrapper, WikiCells add flavor and nutrients that compliment whatever is contained inside. According to WikiCells, “This skin may be comprised primarily of small particles of chocolate, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, or many other natural substances.” They are mainly used to package soft foods, such as ice cream, yogurt, cheese or beverages. © TerraCycle This got me thinking about using edible packaging for more than just soft foods. A lot of things have been made in edible versions – necklaces, tableware, under garments, even shoes – but they are mostly novelty items or prototypes that haven’t taken hold in a meaningful way.

What do you do with your potato chip bag after you eat the chips? Most of those bags up in the trash, but a New Jersey company wants to turn them into usable products. Trenton-based TerraCycle has selected Hamilton Township as a test site to determine whether consumers are willing to help keep chip bags from ending up in landfills.

TerraCycle announced today that Hamilton would serve as the pilot township for its "Chip In For Change" program, which aims to collect 10 percent of empty chip bags thrown out by Hamilton residents. TerraCycle founder and CEO Tom Szaky said at a town hall press conference that Hamilton recycles less than 1 percent of its used chip bags. The program aims to bring that number up to as high as 30 percent, equivalent to the rate of soda bottles or aluminum cans.

TerraCycle announced a trial test in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, inviting residents to "Chip in for Change." CEO and Founder of TerraCycle, Tom Szaky joined Mayor John Bencivengo to unveil their goal to collect and recycle at least ten percent of Hamilton's used chip bags.

The 'upcycling' by teacher Tim Zavacki and the entire school recognized by TerraCycle

Get ready for Back to School with these eco-friendly TerraCycle school supplies. Each one is upcycled from common trash items you might find in any classroom or cafeteria such as drink pouches, chip bags and granola bar wrappers. Not only are TerraCycle products fun, affordable and good for the environment, they also have a story. Each one begins life as garbage. TerraCycle pays schools and charities to collect their trash and send it in, free of charge. For every item return TerraCycle donates 2 cents to a local school or charity. This prize pack contains a Capri Sun backpack and lunchbox, a Mars candy notebook and a Stride notepad.

PHILADELPHIA (July 5, 2012) - The Eastern Division Champion Philadelphia Soul (13-3) and Xfinity Live! will host the World's Largest Flip Cup Game for charity Sunday, July 8 at Xfinity Live! before their game against the Spokane Shock. The flip cup game was initiated as a way to collect as many Red Solo Cups as possible for the Solo Cup Brigade, the Soul's Community Service Initiative for the game July 8. In addition to the entry fee donation, the Soul and Xfinity Live! will turn in the Red Solo Cups to Terra Cycle who will give up to $0.10 per cup collected for one large donation to the Wilford Hall Fisher House.

It’s no coincidence that EcoScraps has so many similarities to Terracycle – just like Terracycle and companies such as Honest Tea, Recyclebank and Warby Parker, EcoScraps has the ability to successfully implement what BBMG described as Disrupt and Delight – “leverage the constraints of sustainability to design products and services that work better, cost less and deliver ways for all of us to create a better world.” This is the key for its success and for a little less wasteful future for the rest of us.

Troop 1811 has been working hard to collect wrappers that they can put to positive use. East Meadow Girl Scout Troop 1811 has been working hard to give back to their organization. "We have been collecting Nabisco and Keebler wrappers, along with all candy wrappers and sending them to a recyclable company called Terracycle," Debbie Iadevaio, one of the group's leaders, told Patch via email. "In turn, they donate money to the girl scouts of Nassau County council. This year we also started collecting Elmer's glue containers and sticks." Amanda Skoros is the other leader for Troop 1811. Below is a list of all the girls who have participated in the project.