1. 1.     Got a pair of flip-flops that are so 2009? There just might be a program for you.

On Friday a program called Flip Flop Relay begins in Woodbury, where participants can turn in their old footwear. In turn, the company TerraCycle recycles the flip-flops into playground equipment, which event organizers say will be donated to communities nationwide. Would-be participants can take part in the Flip Flop Relay locally at Woodbury’s Old Navy store. According to a press release, this event marks the first time a nationwide retailer has initiated a large-scale effort to collect and recycle flip-flops. The event runs through May 21.

Your old flip-flops and used writing pens have a shot at reincarnation. TerraCycle Inc. and Old Navy are partnering to collect used flip-flops and recycle them into four public playgrounds around the country. According to a news release from TerraCycle, this is the first time a nationwide retailer has initiated a large-scale effort to collect and recycle flip-flops. Residents can take flip-flops to the Shawnee Old Navy, 15310 Shawnee Mission Parkway, from Friday, April 22, through May 21.

After record rains, the weather’s warmed up in California — which means it’s now the time of the year when everyone’s fishing out their flip flops from the back of their closets — to remember they broke the thong part of the cheapo shoes while running around last summer.

Today I’m feeling a bit sad for all the used up pens I’ve thrown out over the years, each time grumbling over their unrecyclability. Why? Well for just one week, pens, pencils, and even markers are suddenly recyclable! How so? The garbage-to-green-goods company TerraCycle’s teamed up with Office Depot for Earth Week. Until Sat., April 23, you can take all your out-of-ink writing implements to any Office Depot location to be recycled into new office-supply products like trashcans and desk organizers. There’s even a reward for eco-enthusiasts who’ve been stockpiling spent pens just hoping for this day to arrive. Take in 10 writing implements, and you’ll get a coupon toward a new Sanford product.

Old Navy and Office Depot are sponsoring in-store recycling programs in conjunction with TerraCycle, a New-Jersey-based company that makes new products out of nonrecyclable packaging and products.

The “trashy” folks over at TerraCycle are always looking for ways to keep waste out of the landfill by designing easy DIY projects that make reuse and recycling fun.

Terracycle, a Trenton company that specializes in recycling consumer goods generally considered not reusable, is moving on from kitschy tote bags to plastic lumber.

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One of the latest efforts to improve sustainability and keep hardto- recycle material out of landfills is a collaboration among Clearwater Nursery in Nipomo, international recycler TerraCycle, and food and consumer products giant Unilever. “We’re working with our partners to be the exclusive provider of potted plants in ‘upcycled’ butter containers,” explained Steven Medeiros, Clearwater Nursery marketing executive. “The idea behind the program is to repurpose these containers for a second and third run.”

A pair of national retail chains with stores in Mentor are participating in a recycling program that will give difficult-to-recycle items like mechanical pens and flip-flops second lives as desk organizers and playground equipment. From today until Saturday, people can take their unwanted pens, markers and mechanical pencils to Office Depot. TerraCycle, a recycling company, will then use them to make office supplies like organizers and trash cans. Additionally, anyone who recycles at Office Depot will get a coupon for Sanford products like Sharpie and PaperMate.