Every week, the Los Angeles Times runs a column by Susan Carpenter that describes a material and whether it can be recycled in curbside programs of various jurisdictions. For the past few months, the list of jurisdictions has included "Ventura." Unlike the Los Angeles area, with its many and varied curbside programs, ours are nearly identical countywide, so "Ventura" means all of Ventura County. Here is some information about whether the materials can be recycled in curbside carts here: Drink pouches: No. They are multi-material waste. Although not cost-effective on a per-ton basis, they can be mailed to Terracycle for recycling. For information, visit http://www.terracycle.net.

Green Teams! If you haven't already heard, there's a new, fun way to recycle products you've never been able to recycle before. It's called Terracycle! Terracycle is a company with a goal “to help eliminate the idea of waste." It works by establishing new waste collection programs they call "Brigades." Brigades are teams of people -- friends, co-workers, families, etc. -- that are registered with Terracycle to focus on and round up certain kinds of non-recyclable waste that the company can convert into new products. They can turn Capri-Sun juice pouches into shoulder bags or circuitboards into clipboards and everything in between.

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Did you know billions of drink pouches are thrown out each year? TerraCycle collects these discarded pouches and turns them into cool products. Sponsored by the drink pouch makers themselves (CapriSun and Kool-Aid) these groovy pencil case holders will be the talk at the lunch table. You can get your school involved too. Collect drink pouches, turn them in and collect cash for your school. Go to www.terracycle.net and find out more. Pencil cases starting at $2. (TerraCycle makes lunch boxes too. See page XXX)