There are new places to take dried up ink pens and old flip flops, after the top strap plug pops out of the sole. Both are being recycled by TerraCycle, an international company that takes difficult to recycle objects and turns them into eco-friendly products. The company has struck Earth Day deals with Office Depot and Old Navy to help collect them.

  Dropps, the first laundry detergent product that's both convenient (toss-and-go dissolving pacs) as well as environmentally friendly (EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) certified), has partnered with TerraCycle, the international upcycling pioneer, to give consumers a 100% zero waste liquid laundry detergent choice.  Until now Dropps pouches have been easy on the wrist, but not suitable for traditional recycling, despite being a fraction of the environmental footprint of giant plastic jugs.  TerraCycle, which specializes in difficult-to-recycle packaging, is launching a new category in its popular Brigade® programs, the Dropps Laundry Detergent Pouch Brigade®, to make Dropps a 100% zero waste product, while earning greenbacks for charities and schools!

Two local businesses are joining in an effort that allows people to recycle products that aren’t generally accepted — flip flops and writing utensils, that is. Old Navy will accept the old flip flops through May 21 and Office Depot will take any brand of used pens, markers or mechanical pencils through April 23. Both of the Edwardsville Crossing stores are working with Terracycle Inc., an international recycle that items nobody else will and turns them into affordable, eco-friendly products.

Laundry detergent brand Dropps has partnered with TerraCycle to give consumers a 100 percent zero waste liquid laundry detergent choice. By joining the new Dropps Laundry Detergent Pouch Brigade through www.terracycle.net, individuals, families and large-scale launderers can collect empty Dropps packaging and send them to TerraCycle. The shipping is free: pre-paid labels can be downloaded and printed through the TerraCycle website. Dropps is a laundry detergent product packaged in toss-and-go dissolving pacs for easy dispensing. The pacs are sold in stand-up puches, that the co. says are not suitable for traditional recycling, despite being a fraction of the environmental footprint of giant plastic jugs. By partnering with TerraCycle, which specializes in difficult-to-recycle packaging, Dropps has enabled consumers make Dropps a 100 percent zero waste product, while generating revenue for charities and schools.

Old Navy and TerraCycle Partner in “The Flip Flop Replay” Program Recycles Flip Flops to Build Community Playgrounds WHAT: In an effort to further reduce waste, TerraCycle Inc. and Old Navy are partnering in a month-long drive to collect used flip flops and recycle them into four public playgrounds around the country. The community is encouraged to participate by stopping by an Old Navy store to deposit used flip flops in designated collection bins. This is the first time a nationwide retailer has initiated a large-scale effort to collect and recycle flip flops.

In an effort to further reduce waste, TerraCycle Inc. and Old Navy are partnering in a month-long drive to collect used flip flops and recycle them into four public playgrounds around the country. The community is encouraged to participate by stopping by an Old Navy store to deposit used flip flops in designated collection bins from Friday, which is Earth Day, through May 21. Flip flops can be recycled at all Old Navy stores across the U.S. Check www.oldnavy.com for store details

In an effort to further reduce waste, TerraCycle Inc. and Old Navy are partnering in a month-long drive to collect used flip flops and recycle them into four public playgrounds around the country. The community is encouraged to participate by stopping by an Old Navy store to deposit used flip flops in designated collection bins from Friday, which is Earth Day, through May 21. Flip flops can be recycled at all Old Navy stores across the U.S. Check www.oldnavy.com for store...

Especially good for school or community-based programs … Before hitting the dumpster, send particular discards to Terracycle.net and make a few bucks – check out their programs that pay you for “waste” – shipping is often free.

Also, bring in your old flip-flops during our "Flip-Flop Replay" - a great event made possible by the partnership between Old Navy and TerraCycle.  TerraCycle is an international company known for turning waste into affordable, eco-friendly products.  Your old flip-flops will be part of a great cause when four playgrounds made from your flip-flops will be donated to lucky schools and organizations across the country!

Readers can participate in nationwide recycling programs this month by bringing used pens and flip-flops to area Office Depot and Old Navy locations. Between April 17 and 23, shoppers can bring in 10 used pens, markers or mechanical pencils to Office Depot and receive a coupon toward new Sanford products (maker of Sharpie, Expo, PaperMate). The used writing instruments will be sent to TerraCycle to be recycled into new office products such as trash cans and desk organizers. Office Depot has stores in St. Charles and Algonquin.