New Jersey-based TerraCycle collects waste packaging from over 60,000 schools and community groups nationwide and “upcycles” them into new, useful products. Known for their “Brigades,” which has students and groups collecting everything from single use drink pouches to empty yogurt containers, Terracycle pays for shipping, prints the shipping labels the Brigades use, keeps track of how many items each Brigade has collected and even provides the shipping boxes. To make the Brigade program successful, TerraCycle has partnered with a number of well-known manufacturers like Kraft, PepsiCo and PaperMate to help turn the nonrecyclable into recyclable. Earlier in the year, TerraCycle partnered with Walmart to showcase and sell a wide variety of the repurposed products they’d created including tote bags made from Frito-Lay wrappers and purses and shoulder bags made from candy wrappers like M&M’s and Skittles. Terracycle has expanded its recycling program into eleven countries and, since its 2001 founding, has diverted billions of pieces of waste that were either upcycled or recycled into over 1,500 different products. They partnered with Toys R Us and Macy’s in New Jersey to collect in-store materials like used sneakers, shoes, used diaper packaging and used and broken toys. They’re discussing a possible regional program roll-out in the northeast. TerraCycle has also opened several retail stores featuring their innovative “new” products. They’ve also developed the TerraCycle Classroom Curriculum to teach students about the problems of and solutions to waste. TerraCycle is a company with both a vision and the ability to give trash a new, useful second life. You can find out more about them at www.Terracycle.net <http://www.Terracycle.net> .

New Jersey-based TerraCycle collects waste packaging from over 60,000 schools and community groups nationwide and “upcycles” them into new, useful products. Known for their “Brigades,” which has students and groups collecting everything from single use drink pouches to empty yogurt containers, Terracycle pays for shipping, prints the shipping labels the Brigades use, keeps track of how many items each Brigade has collected and even provides the shipping boxes. To make the Brigade program successful, TerraCycle has partnered with a number of well-known manufacturers like Kraft, PepsiCo and PaperMate to help turn the nonrecyclable into recyclable. Earlier in the year, TerraCycle partnered with Walmart to showcase and sell a wide variety of the repurposed products they’d created including tote bags made from Frito-Lay wrappers and purses and shoulder bags made from candy wrappers like M&M’s and Skittles.

New Jersey-based TerraCycle collects waste packaging from over 60,000 schools and community groups nationwide and “upcycles” them into new, useful products. Known for their “Brigades,” which has students and groups collecting everything from single use drink pouches to empty yogurt containers, Terracycle pays for shipping, prints the shipping labels the Brigades use, keeps track of how many items each Brigade has collected and even provides the shipping boxes. To make the Brigade program successful, TerraCycle has partnered with a number of well-known manufacturers like Kraft, PepsiCo and PaperMate to help turn the nonrecyclable into recyclable. Earlier in the year, TerraCycle partnered with Walmart to showcase and sell a wide variety of the repurposed products they’d created including tote bags made from Frito-Lay wrappers and purses and shoulder bags made from candy wrappers like M&M’s and Skittles.

New Jersey-based TerraCycle collects waste packaging from over 60,000 schools and community groups nationwide and “upcycles” them into new, useful products. Known for their “Brigades,” which has students and groups collecting everything from single use drink pouches to empty yogurt containers, Terracycle pays for shipping, prints the shipping labels the Brigades use, keeps track of how many items each Brigade has collected and even provides the shipping boxes. To make the Brigade program successful, TerraCycle has partnered with a number of well-known manufacturers like Kraft, PepsiCo and PaperMate to help turn the nonrecyclable into recyclable. Earlier in the year, TerraCycle partnered with Walmart to showcase and sell a wide variety of the repurposed products they’d created including tote bags made from Frito-Lay wrappers and purses and shoulder bags made from candy wrappers like M&M’s and Skittles. Terracycle has expanded its recycling program into eleven countries and, since its 2001 founding, has diverted billions of pieces of waste that were either upcycled or recycled into over 1,500 different products. They partnered with Toys R Us and Macy’s in New Jersey to collect in-store materials like used sneakers, shoes, used diaper packaging and used and broken toys. They’re discussing a possible regional program roll-out in the northeast. TerraCycle has also opened several retail stores featuring their innovative “new” products. They’ve also developed the TerraCycle Classroom Curriculum to teach students about the problems of and solutions to waste. TerraCycle is a company with both a vision and the ability to give trash a new, useful second life. You can find out more about them at www.Terracycle.net <http://www.Terracycle.net> .

The Secondary Transition Program (STP) has joined forces with TerraCycle to begin a recycling project for the Sanilac Intermediate School District Special Education Programs and Services. Each year millions of candy wrappers, chip bags, glue bottles, and drink pouches end up in landfills. TerraCycle is a proud partner with Mars/ Wrigley, Nabisco, Frito- Lay, Capri- Sun, and Elmer’s Glue. Terracycle works with these companies to upcycle materials into fun new products! The Sanilac ISD Special Education Programs will also earn $0.02 for each wrapper/ package that is sent in. TerraCycle has been such a success in schools everywhere that they now require a 250 - 500 piece minimum send in! Due to this increase the ISD is reaching out for help. Please send in any Wrappers, packages, and drink pouches to the Sanilac ISD at Maple Valley or at the Sanilac Career Center.

’Tis the holiday season and here at FILTER we believe in giving gifts that keep on giving. So in the spirit of the holidays, throughout December we’ll be posting our Good Gift Guide ideas for your picky loved ones. The saying goes that it’s greater to give than it is to receive. So what if you could give in more ways than one? The TerraCycle manufacturing company is making that possible this holiday season with gifts that are also good for the environment. Dedicated to using non-recyclables to create new items, or “upcycling,” their speakers and vinyl picture frames are perfect for the eco-enthusiast. Made from M&M’s, Starburst and Skittles candy wrappers, the speakers run on the power supply of your iPod or MP3 player, available here for $13.99. Their vinyl picture frames are—you guessed it—made out of old records, available here for $12.99. While they may not live to spin another day, at least they can still look impressive.

Playing into the established "reuse is better than recycle" eco-sensibility, TerraCycle takes trash and transforms it into useful eco-products. TerraCycle runs a series of free national brigades, inviting people to send their garbage in exchange for cash to be donated to schools and nonprofits. From a kite made out of Skittles wrappers to an upcycled bike chain picture frame to fire logs made out of recycled cardboard and wax, TerraCycle's 1,500 products range from the quirky to the utilitarian and are available in a wide range of major U.S. retailers, from Whole Foods to Wal-Mart. Founded by a Princeton freshman in 2001, TerraCycle has collected nearly 2 billion waste units to date and raised more than $1.5 million for charity.

I asked her,"Are those Capri Sun pouches? Did you make that?" She started laughing and telling me how she found this company called TerraCycle that takes recycling to a whole new level. They do what they "upcycle" things like Capri Sun pouches, Frito-Lay potato chip bags, M&M wrappers, and a ton of other things you and I throw out every day and turns them into things like the bag A'Driane has. I was sold, especially after I saw their website. They sell everything you can think of, but what I really think is cool is that not only do they have stuff you can give your kids to use like pencil cases, kites, colored pencils, etc, but their products aren't expensive at all. They even have what they call "Brigades"-which are basically recycling programs that pay you to send them your trash. Capri Sun pouches, yogurt lids, toothbrushes, candy wrappers, you name it, you, your buisness, or kid's school can collect these items and get paid for collecting it while helping reduce waste-pretty incredible.

Innovative New Jersey-based company Terracycle <http://www.terracycle.net>  has made a name for itself by collecting and recycling literally tons of trash into an ever-growing array of fun, unique consumer products, from plant food for gardeners to clocks, coasters, bags, office products and much more. These colorful speakers are made from discarded chip bags, and they don't require any additional power source (they are designed to plug directly into an MP3 player or other audio source).

Why not go for something different and give your child a green gift for Christmas instead? Our top 10 green gifts for kids are eco-friendly and good for the planet; they come in minimal packaging and are made from recycled materials and products. They are also great fun for kids and their friends, encourage imagination, and best of all, each one is under $20!

1) Skittles Boombox1) Skittles, Peanut M&M or Starburst Gummie Boomboxes $18.99
Looking for the perfect gift to light up your child’s face this Christmas morning? Look no further! TerraCycle has joined forces with Merkury Innovations to create these fun “upcycled” boombox eco-speakers. Upcycling takes unused rolls of wrapping material that would otherwise go to waste, and turns it into a variety of useful, eco-friendly products. These boombox speakers are universally compatible with all MP3 players and are battery-free, plus the kids absolutely love them! Choose from Skittles, Starburst Gummies or Peanut M&M versions.