President Bill Clinton got into the topic of trash at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative recently. It is an important topic. We create tremendous amounts of waste these days, and much of it could be used in a constructive way, rather than polluting our planet. While some companies are trying to be greener and minimize their waste, other companies have made waste the source of their business. Using “waste” as a key input to the products they create, these companies are as green as green gets. TerraCycle is one such company.

TerraCycle turns trash into tote bags, desk clocks and more. Save 15% at DwellSmart.com/TerraCycle with coupon code WWMAG.

With kindergarten teacher Karen Dunlap as their leader, the Norristown school collects drink pouches, chip bags and cookie wrappers — hard-to-recycle waste — and sends them away to be upcycled into eco-friendly products. Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials, and it’s what the Trenton, N.J.-based company TerraCycle does with candy wrappers, energy bar wrappers and other consumer products, while at the same time paying the schools and charitable organizations that collect the used packaging.

If you haven't entered the giveaway for the Terra Cycle Tote bag CLICK HERE , it ends on October the 11th at NOON! This has been a really fun giveaway I have loved reading all your re-using tips and ideas and will share my favorites below. Terracycle sent me instructions on how to use 2 Capri Sun pouches and make a wallet, as you see Sophia is proudly holding. If you would like these instructions e-mail me at shanathesavyyshopper@gmail.com with WALLET INSTRUCTIONS and I will send that your way.

With kindergarten teacher Karen Dunlap as their leader, the Norristown school collects drink pouches, chip bags and cookie wrappers — hard-to-recycle waste — and sends them away to be upcycled into eco-friendly products. Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials, and it’s what the Trenton, N.J.-based company TerraCycle does with candy wrappers, energy bar wrappers and other consumer products, while at the same time paying the schools and charitable organizations that collect the used packaging.

Bear Naked and TerraCycle are partnering up to offer free t-shirts for a limited time. Simply send in three or more empty bags or packages of Bear Naked products, $5 to cover shipping and handling and this Bear Naked T-Shirt form to receive your “Upcycler” t-shirt!

With kindergarten teacher Karen Dunlap as their leader, the Norristown school collects drink pouches, chip bags and cookie wrappers — hard-to-recycle waste — and sends them away to be upcycled into eco-friendly products. Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials, and it’s what the Trenton, N.J.-based company TerraCycle does with candy wrappers, energy bar wrappers and other consumer products, while at the same time paying the schools and charitable organizations that collect the used packaging.

Kristina Greene, 41, helps Westford residents convert trash into treasure. How does Upcycle It! work? We take technically non-recyclable items and send them to TerraCycle, which pays 2 cents for every item we send in. The money goes to Westford schools; the items are made into other things. What kinds of things does Upcycle It! accept? Drink pouches, energy bar wrappers, cookie wrappers, chip bags, Elmer’s glue containers, candy wrappers, coffee bags, wine corks, oral care products, and writing instruments.

Remember my TerraCycle post awhile back? They are helping reduce chip waste too once we're done eating them, by recycling those Frito-Lay chips bags into products like FritoLay wrapper totes <http://www.terracycle.net/products/67-Frito-Lay-Wrapper-Tote> ! You can sign up to help by saving and sending in your chip bags!

Of all the reusable bags I've amassed over the years - and not a duplicate among them - the one that seems to be the favorite of grocery store baggers is the TerraCycle sack made from Capri Sun drink pouches. It's my favorite, too. It's incredibly sturdy, ooze-proof and pretty snappy looking to boot. TerraCycle and Capri Sun recently announced that their Drink Pouch Brigade ? schools and organizations that participate in a free fundraiser that pays 2 cents for every drink pouch collected ? has broken the 50 million mark. TerraCycle and Capri Sun pay for every pouch collected, so that means $1 million has been returned to the groups just for stuff that would otherwise be garbage.