Do you have a pile of rubber flip-flops from last summer? There may be a better place for them instead of the landfill down the street. Terracycle is a web-based recycling service that has a goal to eliminate waste by finding clever ways to reuse non-recyclable items, such as tooth brushes and potato chip bags. But it's not a typical drop-off site where someone else organizes the clutter. To participate in up-cycling, material must be gathered in bulk by a team and meet defined expectations. The material is used to create household, office and gardening products. The up-cycled items are for sale at Terracycle's online shop, and some are available at stores including Walmart and Target. Old Navy has created the Flip-Flop Brigade ®, and is asking people to recycle their flip-flops. In return, Old Navy will send you valuable coupons. There is no participation fee to join the brigade, and the shipping cost is covered by the program. Collect 25 pairs of flip-flops, or up to 18 pounds, of any brand and fill up a box or bag. Download a pre-paid shipping label from terracycle.com. Ship the box to TerraCycle by affixing the pre-paid postage label and dropping it off at a UPS location. Terracycle was founded by Tom Szaky in 2001. With more than 28 million registered users, Terracycle boasts to be one of the "fastest-growing green companies in the world." To learn more about Terracycle brigades, or to participate in this one, visit http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/oldnavy.html.

Meet this sixth-grade science teacher at Paxon Hollow Middle School who has been in the industry for 12 years. Marple Newtown Patch is featuring great teachers in the Marple Newtown area who deserve some spotlight. Teachers give a lot to their students, schools and studies and we'd like to recognize them and say a simple, thank you, for all that they do. Meet this middle school teacher science teacher who has a passion to be eco-friendly. Name: Kelly A. Dougherty School: Paxon Hollow Middle School Grade/Subject: Sixth Grade / Science Years in the Industry: 12 Teaching History: I started teaching in Marple in 1999 as a first-grade teacher at Worrall Elementary. I was there for seven years and loved every second of it. After my second daughter was born, I was assigned to Paxon Hollow Middle School. What do you like most about your job? What I like most about my job is the rewards that come with seeing a child grow as person throughout the year. In September, the new students enter the building nervous and excited about the year ahead. Being a part of their growth process, seeing them accept the challenges, and become independent learners is the most enjoyable part of teaching. Why did you become a teacher? When I was in elementary school, my parents decided to send us to private school. I switched schools when I was going into second grade. It was a tough transition but my teacher, Ms. Kennedy, made the transition so easy. She was a very loving, nurturing teacher. That’s when I decided that I wanted to be a teacher and help students like she helped me. What do you like best about your current school (projects, programs or activities that your school is a part of): Last year, I started a Recycling Club. I had three students join the club. We teamed up withTerracycle, a company that takes our trash and turns it into recycled products, such as pencil cases, binders, bags, etc. Last year’s program was such a success that we were able to expand our recycling efforts to include paper. This year, I have over 50 students participate in the recycling club. Every Monday, the students are assigned to sections of the school and empty the recycling bins in each of the classrooms. Once completed, the students are responsible for transporting all of the recycled materials to the bin outside. I am amazed at what a success this program has become in such a short time. The kids stop me in the hallways each week asking if we are going to recycle and are disappointed when it is cancelled. One of the major achievements of the Recycling Club was the awarding of a $1,000 grant for collecting the most cellphones out of all the participating schools. The success of this program could not have come without the help and support of Principal Steve Subers, Mr. Flood, Mr. Gretchen, and Mrs. Petty! About this column: Marple Newtown Patch is dedicating this feature called "Behind The Chalkboard" to highlight some of the teachers who deserve recognition, and to simply get to know these educators. For any nominations, email them to marplenewtown@patch.com.

“From a corporate perspective, you want to align your brand with organizations that have a good track record but also align closely with your ideals." Turner wanted his gaming company to make money, but he also wanted it to benefit society as a whole. To make this happen, Guerillapps decided to team up with corporations, such as TerraCycle, Carbonfund.org, TreeHugger, and Kraft, who were already encouraging recycling. The company combined their two passions: recycling and gaming and the end result is a product called Trash Tycoon, which integrates real-life recycling with the advancement of the online game.

Meet this sixth-grade science teacher at Paxon Hollow Middle School who has been in the industry for 12 years. Marple Newtown Patch is featuring great teachers in the Marple Newtown area who deserve some spotlight. Teachers give a lot to their students, schools and studies and we'd like to recognize them and say a simple, thank you, for all that they do. Meet this middle school teacher science teacher who has a passion to be eco-friendly. Name: Kelly A. Dougherty School: Paxon Hollow Middle School Grade/Subject: Sixth Grade / Science Years in the Industry: 12 Teaching History: I started teaching in Marple in 1999 as a first-grade teacher at Worrall Elementary. I was there for seven years and loved every second of it. After my second daughter was born, I was assigned to Paxon Hollow Middle School. What do you like most about your job? What I like most about my job is the rewards that come with seeing a child grow as person throughout the year. In September, the new students enter the building nervous and excited about the year ahead. Being a part of their growth process, seeing them accept the challenges, and become independent learners is the most enjoyable part of teaching. Why did you become a teacher? When I was in elementary school, my parents decided to send us to private school. I switched schools when I was going into second grade. It was a tough transition but my teacher, Ms. Kennedy, made the transition so easy. She was a very loving, nurturing teacher. That’s when I decided that I wanted to be a teacher and help students like she helped me. What do you like best about your current school (projects, programs or activities that your school is a part of): Last year, I started a Recycling Club. I had three students join the club. We teamed up withTerracycle, a company that takes our trash and turns it into recycled products, such as pencil cases, binders, bags, etc. Last year’s program was such a success that we were able to expand our recycling efforts to include paper.

Social entrepreneurs create innovative solutions for tackling the world’s most vexing social problems. Whether they’re solving hunger, improving the environment, or fighting for political freedom, these entrepreneurs place social missions at the center of their business activities — aiming to maximize social value instead of profits, though both are important for maintaining a sustainable organization. As a result, social enterprises come in both for-profit and not-for-profit models, though some believe the secret to a successful social enterprise is acting like a business. Raviv Turner, cofounder and CEO of Guerillapps — a startup focused on developing social games to support real-world causes — would agree that successful social entrepreneurs are the ones taking queues from their for-profit counterparts. Passion and drive, though, are also essential components.

Most people have heard the saying, “You can't improve what you don’t measure.” But measurement can be complex and time-consuming, especially when it comes to figuring out how to reduce environmental impacts. This is why Kraft Foods says it is using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to help it make the right changes and get the best results for a range of its global products. For Kraft, LCA measures the footprint of what goes into making a product, from farm to fork and beyond. As an example, Kraft cites the YES Pack. In the U.S., the Kraft YES Pack salad dressing team used LCA to confirm that their design has a reduced environmental impact, using 60% less plastic packaging than the previous container. In the U.K., the Kenco coffee team used LCA to confirm its new Eco-Refill package delivered a 70% savings in the packaging's carbon impact footprint compared to its glass counterpart. And in Europe, the Tassimo single-serve beverage team’s LCA showed they could reduce the carbon footprint of each T Disc beverage ingredient package by about 20% when upcycling them with partner TerraCycle and diverting them from landfills.

100% fruit, squeezable applesauce in convenient, re-sealable pouches that offer a wholesome snack for kids and families on-the-go • SqueeZ ¾ serving of fruit into your day with just one pouch • Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and made with no artificial flavors or preservatives – it’s simply all-natural! • At only 60 calories, it’s a healthy snack to feel good about sharing with your kids • Kosher certified • Available in 7 yummy flavors: AppleApple, AppleStrawberry, AppleCinnamon, AppleBanana, ApplePeach, AppleBerry and newly introduced, AppleMango The first time I introduced Savannah to applesauce was the the GoGo squeeZpouches I found at my local Target. She enjoyed the apple puree I used to feed her as a baby, so I couldn't wait to see if she liked applesauce as she got older and ate more advanced more. Within what seemed like a minute, she has sucked the applesauce out of the pouch and was asking for more. I guess she liked applesauce. :-) So, I continued to experiment with other brands of applesauce, only to find her not interested in them. Instead of eating them quickly, she would either take a spoonful and spit it out, or just walk away. But, as soon as I gave her a GoGo squeeZ pouch, her eyes lit up and she smiled, as she grabbed the pouch from me and sat down to enjoy it. A few weeks ago, I found out that GoGo squeeZ was introducing a new flavor to their mix, AppleMango, as well as updating their packaging. I couldn't wait to try these with Savannah and see what she thoughts. So, the kind folks at GoGo squeeZ sent me a box to try, as well as a canvas tote and two apple squeeZy balls for the girls to play with. As soon as I had the pouches chilled, I took one pouch out of the refrigerator to give to Savannah. She hesitated at first, but after I tried it, she wanted some. From her initial try, she was hooked, and wanted more. Within minutes she finished this pouch and asked for another. And, that night I caught her sneaking a squirt of this tasty applesauce with her little sister. My husband walked over to them, and Arabella was licking her lips. I guess we have two GoGo squeeZ fans in our house. Have you had a chance to try this new flavor or other applesauce flavors from GoGo squeeZ? If not, you should give them a try. I especially love how they come in the handy pouches, which I can take on the go and give the girls as a snack. And, they are small enough for them to grab and hold on it. Within 2 days, we have our 4-pack box of AppleMangogone, and I found myself heading to the store this past weekend to pick up more. With summer coming, these handy pouches of applesauce will definitely be a staple in my diaper bag. ---BUY NOW--- GoGo squeeZ is available at major retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger and Whole Foods, for a suggested retail price of $2.99 per four-pack. For more information, please visit: www.gogosqueez.com or find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. ---GIVEAWAY--- One lucky reader will win a GoGo squeeZ prize pack, which will include the following: · 4-pack of AppleMango · GoGo squeeZ “Always Play” canvas tote bag · GoGo squeeZ airplanes and apple squeeZy balls To enter, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck! About GoGo squeeZ: All natural GoGo squeeZ is a no-spoon, no-mess way to enjoy fruit on-the-go. These tasty pouches are jam packed with squeezable goodness that is perfect for kids to enjoy before, during and after play! Like simple imaginative play our products are always good for you, leave you with a smile and can be enjoyed anywhere the grand adventure takes you. GoGo squeeZ is focused on making the world a better place now and in the future. • Partnership with upcycling and recycling pioneer TerraCycle®, Inc. creates a way for families to recycle used GoGo squeeZ pouches • TerraCycle, Inc. is a global company that collects post-consumer waste and turns it into community playgrounds, affordable eco-friendly products, and much more

Seventh-grader Diamond Lacy, 13, and her 12-year-old sister, Crystal Lacy, who is in the sixth grade, said they decided to begin a campaign to collect and recycle used Capri Sun juice pouches after seeing a program for doing so advertised on the back of the drink’s packaging.

Most people have heard the saying that you can't improve what you can't measure. But, measurement can be complex and time-consuming, especially when it comes to figuring out how to reduce environmental impacts. That’s why Kraft Foods is using lifecycle assessment (LCA) to help it make the right changes and get the best results. For example, in the United States, the Kraft YES Pack salad dressing team used LCA to confirm their design has a reduced environmental impact, using 60% less plastic packaging than the previous container. And in Europe, the Tassimo single-serve beverage team's LCA showed they could reduce the carbon footprint of each T Disc beverage ingredient package by about 20% when upcycling them with partner TerraCycle and diverting them from landfills.

There are a wide and creative variety of these sorts of partnerships with both commercial companies and government agencies -- strategies that produce value for both sides, rather than for only one. I'm reminded of TerraCycle, for example, an impressive company that tries to outsmart waste by paying schools who teach kids to recycle things like Capri Sun drink pouches. The kids learn to recycle waste, the school makes a little extra spending money, and TerraCycle uses waste items to make nifty handbags, purses and other consumer items to sell. Sounds like the beginnings of a virtuous cycle, to me.