Have you ever wondered what upstream and downstream recycling means? If so, you’re not alone. I often get asked this question and I thought I would answer it. Upstream recycling can be summed up in one term- “design for environment” or DfE. An upstream product is manufactured with a keen eye on environmental sustainability. For instance, a manufacturer will create packaging that weighs less by using fewer materials for a product’s packaging. A DfE manufacturer will also consider using eco-friendly materials or a single material in the packaging & product design, coding and labeling when different materials are used, and allow ease of product material dis-assembly. DfE products may cost less to recycle and have a sustainable impact on our environment. A fantastic example of DfE is the Micro-USB charger. The Micro-USB will be the common charging interface for mobile phones. The Micro USB-based plug will enable all mobile phones to power up using the same charger regardless of make and model. For more information please see my recent blog “One-Charger Fits All Revolution”. For upstream recycling, the responsibility is on the manufacturer. Downstream recycling can be summed up in one term- “giving products a second life”. Downstream recycling or down-recycling is when a non-recyclable product is re-purposed into material for a new product of sometimes lesser quality. This can include varying grades of plastic, paper products, and other materials. An outstanding example of a company built upon down-cycling is TerraCycle. TerraCycle turns non-recyclable products into recycled products. Through their international waste collection programs, they turn the collected waste into new products, such as fertilizer, backpacks and park benches. For downstream recycling, the responsibility is on the consumer. Please share your comments and experiences with upstream and downstream recycling. We would love to hear your story.

Hoping to inspire real life eco-action and give tired, old FarmVille a run for its money, TerraCycle launches Trash Tycoon, Facebook's first ever 'social upcycling game.' Make no qualms about it, I’m not a FarmVille kind of guy. At all. In fact, if FarmVille, CityVille, FrontierVille, or a Ville of any sort pops on my Facebook news feed, I’ll hide it without an ounce of hesitation. Call me what you will but these games and apps just aren’t my cup o’ social networking tea. Besides, I’m too busy posting Jazzercise Yet, I’m quite intrigued by a certain new social networking game that I don’t think I’d mind seeing show up here and there on my news feed. And heck, I’m admittedly tempted to even start playing it myself. Launched by one of my favorite green companies, Trenton, N.J.-based TerraCycle , in partnership with TreeHugger and Carbonfund.org , the game in question is called Trash Tycoon and it’s being described as Facebook’s first “social upcycling game.”

Social gaming company Guerillapps has launched “Trash Tycoon,” a social game on Facebook which has a focus on environmental issues. The game aims to increase awareness of environmental issues and sustainability, while it highlights the concept of upcycling — where discarded waste is repurposed for a valuable use. What’s particularly interesting about this is that you can receive in-game rewards for recycling material in real life. In the game, you can collect litter in a city covered in trash and upcycle waste into valuable, environmentally friendly products. The upcycling process ranges from finding uses for plastic bags to creating a home out of discarded material. You can create other items such as jewelry, toys and furniture, which you can either keep for yourself or sell for profit. When you complete missions, you will collect virtual money and points to help you rise up the rankings and become a garbage tycoon. The game’s overall aim reflects that of its sponsor TerraCycle — which is a collection and solution program for waste that is typically non-recyclable. The 21 million people who participate in TerraCycle’s recycling programs earn 2 points, equivalent to 2 cents, for every piece of waste they collect and return to a TerraCycle kiosk.

Trash Tycoon , created by social gaming startup Guerillapps and sponsored by upcycling company TerraCycle , is the first Facebook game built around upcycling. In the game, players take the role of recycling entrepreneurs responsible for cleaning up a trash-strewn city. Players earn game money and points by collecting and upcycling trash – converting waste into useful, quality products – just like TerraCycle does in real life. While playing the game, users will be able to communicate and collaborate with each other in real time, banding together with friends to take on trash.

A new game on Facebook is the first to highlight the concept of upcycling, where trash is turned into valuable products rather than thrown away. Manhattan-based startup Guerillapps created Trash Tycoon, where players take the role of recycling entrepreneurs. They collect litter in a trash strewn city and upcycle the waste into higher quality, environmentally responsible products. They earn points and can ultimately earn the title of garbage tycoon. The game's trash-tackling premise directly mirrors that of sponsor TerraCycle in the real world .

Hundreds of millions of people in countries all over the world use Facebook every day. Now, some are using the ever popular game apps as a platform for changing real world behaviors and cleaning up the planet. Terracycle, known for its collection and creative reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste, recently announced the launch the first social upcycling game for Facebook. Called "Trash Tycoon ," the game challenges players to become recycling entrepreneurs by asking them to collect and upcycle organic waste and trash found strewn around their city. Players earn game money and points by creating exciting new products out of trash just like TerraCycle does in real life.

Hundreds of millions of people in countries all over the world use Facebook every day. Now, some are using the ever popular game apps as a platform for changing real world behaviors and cleaning up the planet. Terracycle, known for its collection and creative reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste, recently announced the launch the first social upcycling game for Facebook. Called "Trash Tycoon ," the game challenges players to become recycling entrepreneurs by asking them to collect and upcycle organic waste and trash found strewn around their city. Players earn game money and points by creating exciting new products out of trash just like TerraCycle does in real life.

Instead of building a city, Trash Tycoon asks you to clean one up. The houses and streets are already there, but they’re a mess. It’s a game that attempts to teach players about the benefits of recycling, but it doesn’t really feel like an educational game. And that’s because, in spite of a few flaws and the fact that it doesn’t really do much new, Trash Tycoon is actually pretty fun. You start the game in what looks to be a suburban neighborhood. Only it looks like one that’s been through a tornado or two. The houses are destroyed and litter is everywhere, and so naturally it’s up to you to clean everything up. As you pick up piles of trash you’ll gather items like shards of glass, plastic bottles, and scraps of paper. But instead of simply recycling them, you can upcycle the resources to earn some money.

A new game on Facebook is the first to highlight the concept of upcycling, where trash is turned into valuable products rather than thrown away. Manhattan-based startup Guerillapps created Trash Tycoon, where players take the role of recycling entrepreneurs. They collect litter in a trash strewn city and upcycle the waste into higher quality, environmentally responsible products. They earn points and can ultimately earn the title of garbage tycoon. The game's trash-tackling premise directly mirrors that of sponsor TerraCycle in the real world .

2. Trinity Lutheran School helps recycle the "unrecyclable" Burr Ridge's Trinity Lutheran is another local school making a difference. Instead of throwing away difficult-to-recycle materials like cookie wrappers and potato chip bags, Trinity Lutheran sends that refuse to TerraCycle in New Jersey, a company that recycles trash that others often throw away. The students and staff at Trinity Lutheran are among the 14 million individuals worldwide who send trash to TerraCycle, which allows billions of pieces of trash to be converted into over 1,500 common products. Trinity Lutheran alone has sent over 13,740 units of trash to TerraCycle since 2009.