TerraCycle turns non-recyclable plastic waste into recyclable products. Natalie Allen reports.

It seems like all we hear about these days is the “go green” movement. We are all told to drive hybrid cars, recycle and use paper — not plastic. In addition to this movement, the Virginia Tech Equestrian Team has joined the movement by collecting our food wrappers? The Equestrian Team has joined a brigade through a company called Terracycle. Terracycle is a relatively new company that aims to create bags, purses, kites, picture frames and backpacks, almost anything you can imagine out of old food wrappers. It’s really not as weird as you may think, and the products end up looking quirky and cute. Terracycle devotes its work to “upcycle” traditionally non-recyclable products and create usable items. The company statement claims that the products “keep waste out of landfills and contribute to a cleaner world.” It may seem a little far-fetched, but it’s amazing how one small movement can make such a large impact. Some of the products are available at major retailers such as Target and Walmart, while the entirety of its products are available to buy online. You also have the opportunity to buy either a pre-made product or to “create your own.” In creating your own product, you or your specific organization can choose the item you want to create, and then learn about the wrappers you need to collect. Different products are made with different types of wrappers, and these wrappers are then mailed to Terracycle which then upcycles the wrappers into various products.

It’s time for the Go Green Giveaway Event! I am really excited to be taking part in this green event! There are over 50 blogs participating, all bringing you natural/organic products or family friendly items from eco-friendly companies!! For my giveaway I have 3 great sponsors!! Terracycle, a pioneering upcycling and recycling company, makes back-to-school products and tote bags that could be perfect for the fall. The bags are made from upcycled Frito Lay, Capri Sun, and Mars packaging that normally cannot be recycled. TerraCycle makes it possible to reuse these items and prevents them from going to the landfill. Terracycle has these great tote bags and one of my lucky readers will receive one free as part of my giveaway package!! These tote bags will be perfect for the kids to carry to collect all their treats in.

Drink pouches, candy wrappers, and packaging for crackers, chips and other snacks—until last year, they all ended up in the dumpster at Yeshivat Noam. Now, they are being recycled, thanks to the efforts of teacher Alysa Cohen and Trenton-based company Terracycle. This is the second year that Cohen and Yeshivat Noam will partner with Terracycle to recycle what would normally be waste. The school signed up to collect specific items, which the Terracycle refers to as "brigades."

The Tabernacle Christian Academy recently celebrated their new playground with a neighborhood party. The playground was a gift from Old Navy and Terracycle and was awarded through a competitive grant process. The celebration included food, games, prizes and entertainment.

TerraCycle offers a national program called, Brigades to collect previously non-recyclable or hard to recycle waste. While some programs have a cost, most of TerraCycle's Brigades offer free shipping as well as a donation for each piece of garbage that you collect. TerraCycle then converts the collected waste into a wide variety of products and materials. You can visit their website attached to learn more about the program.

One of my most recent recycling dilemmas involved glue and tape. I have two little girls who love to create what they call “masterpieces,” which usually involves paper, paint, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue and/or tape. Unfortunately, my local recycling program does not accept empty glue sticks or tape dispensers for recycling. Recently, however, I found a company that will help me recycle my glue containers: Elmer’s Glue. The company, which began in 1947, started its recycling program for schools on Earth Day 2011.

Terracycle is a company that collects and "upcycles" different kinds of waste packaging and turns that waste into new consumer products. Repurposed products include pencil cases made from Oreo cookie wrappers, kites from Skittles packages, backpacks from Capri Sun drinks pouches and natural plant fertilizer made from worm excrement that is packaged in empty soda bottles. These upcycled products are available for sale in several large national chain stores including Home Depot, Walmart and Wholefoods Markets. So far, Terracycle has collected over 1.5 billion tons of waste. In Lays potato chip packets alone, over two million tons of waste has been diverted from landfills.

The Tabernacle Christian Academy recently celebrated their new playground with a neighborhood party. The playground was a gift from Old Navy and Terracycle and was awarded through a competitive grant process. The celebration included food, games, prizes and entertainment. Established in 1974, the Tabernacle Christian Academy is a K-12 Christian day school. The academy is a ministry of Tabernacle Baptist Church, and is at 155 Academy St., Poughkeepsie. For more information, call 845-454-2792 or visit tabernaclechristianonline.com.