Office Depot Inc., a provider of office products and services through its Office Depot and OfficeMax brands, has announced the launch of its “Binder RecyclingProgram,” which will allow shoppers to recycle old binders through a recycling company called TerraCycle. Currently, shoppers can bring any old empty binder to an Office Depot, or OfficeMax retail location, and receive a $2 instant discount off a same-day binder purchase. “We’re excited to partner with TerraCycle this back-to-school season as parents, teachers and students prepare for the school year with new supplies,” Ron Lalla, executive vice president of merchandising for Office Depot Inc., stated. “The program provides a way to recycle binders in an environmentally conscious way, while also offering a discount to shoppers who are looking for new ones.” Shoppers will receive $2 off the purchase of any new binder when they recycle any binder in the same transaction, according to Office Depot. The discount will apply only to binders purchased, and will not be applied to any free binders with a purchase, and multipacks will count as one. Visit officedepot.com/recyclebinders for additional information regarding the program.

Recycling old school binders when purchasing new ones is being offered to shoppers by Terracycle at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores. Office Depot has teamed with Trenton-based Terracycle, which collects and repurposes hard-to-recycle, post-consumer waste. Shoppers can bring any old, empty binder to an Office Depot or OfficeMax retail location and receive a $2 instant discount off a same-day binder purchase. The Binder Recycling Program encourages shoppers to help preserve the environment by recycling, since many binders are tossed into the garbage after each school year. TerraCycle is able to recycle the binders, significantly reducing the amount of waste going into landfills. “We’re excited to partner with TerraCycle this back-to-school season as parents, teachers and students prepare for the school year with new supplies,” said Ron Lalla, executive vice president of merchandising for Office Depot. “The program provides a way to recycle binders in an environmentally conscious way while also offering a discount to shoppers who are looking for new ones.” TerraCycle works with major manufacturers and retailers to recycle products and packaging that would normally be thrown away. To learn more about TerraCycle and its innovative recycling solutions, visitwww.terracycle.com. For more information on the Office Depot Binder Recycling Program, visitofficedepot.com/recyclebinders The $2 discount applies only to binders purchased and will not be applied to any free binders with a purchase. It is limited to six discounts per household or business. Area participating stores are Office Max, Route 541, Burlington Township and Office Depot, Route 561, Voorhees. Founded in 2001, TerraCycle, Inc., collects and re-purposes waste, ranging from used potato chip bags to coffee capsules to cigarette butts. The waste is collected through free, national, brand-funded recycling programs, as well as various consumer and government-funded models. The collected waste is reused, upcycled or recycled into a variety of affordable, sustainable consumer products and industrial applications. Each year, across 20 countries, TerraCycle collects and repurposes billions of pieces of waste, donating millions of dollars to schools and charities in the process. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com

January may mark the first month of the Western calendar, but for many (including myself), the August and September months truly punctuate the New Year.  Students, parents of students, and anyone who was ever either or both of these can relate: Back-to-school season is a time for new beginnings, and this too often means new "stuff." Now is a prime time to reevaluate your habits, schedule, and routine as they relate to your mission to live your best life with minimal impact on the environment.  A more sustainable routine is something to strive for year-round, but in the spirit of fresh starts, here are four simple ways parents and students alike can go green for back to school: 

1. Mindfully curate your closet.

The beginning of the school year is a great time to make intentional choices when it comes to your wardrobe. Your clothes should reflect your values and express who you are—and that is no trivial topic.   With that being said, your closet purge doesn't have to add to the world's waste problem. On average, every American tosses 82 pounds of textiles a year, which end up in landfills and can take decades to decompose. So instead of trashing your gently used and off-season items, donate them to a nonprofit like Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity; try to sell them at a trade like Crossroads Trading Co. or Brickyard Buffalo; or recycle them if damaged.

2. Recycle old and used binders.

The humble three-ring binder can get overstuffed, scuffed, dented, and otherwise damaged after a year of heavy use. But since binders are often made of vinyl and metal rings, they are not easy to recycle. Instead of tossing your old ones in the landfill, check out my company's Binder Recycling Program. You can can bring any old empty binder to an Office Depot or OfficeMax retail location and receive a $2 instant discount off a same-day binder purchase. Save money and the planet? Win, win!

3. Walk, bike, or carpool whenever possible. If your commute is light enough that you are able to walk or bike to work, consider yourself lucky and take advantage of the opportunity. Ditching your car reduces your carbon emissions, saves you money, and is great for your health.

For those of you who must drive, consider public transport or carpooling. Consolidating trips takes cars off the road, reduces gas consumption, and lowers your individual carbon footprint. As an added bonus, some commuter cities have carpool lanes that lessen the stress of traffic slowdowns.

4. BYOL (Bringing Your Own Lunch). When it comes to fueling your hustle, bringing your own lunch directs your energy and resources in the most effective way. By packing your own lunches and snacks, you are connecting to your food and creating a mindful routine. Be sure to bring your lunch in BPA-free plastic and glass containers, alongside reusable cutlery.

Office Depot/OfficeMax has launched a binder recycling program, encouraging shoppers to recycled old binders through recycling company TerraCycle.

Everyone has their own way of staying organized, and the good old 3-ring binder still has the affinity of all age groups. A school supply requirement on many grade school lists, binders can play a role in supporting collegiate and post-graduate study and keeping bills and

Don’t toss those worn out school binders just yet. Louisville residents can now recycle their old, worn out binders and receive a coupon for a new one. Just in time for back-to-school shopping, Office Depot, Office Max and recycling company TerraCycle have created the Binder Recycling Program to keep binders out of landfills.

ears ago, when South Wayne elementary teacher Jina Newman signed her students up with a Trucker Buddy, there was no email, no internet. Her third-graders wrote their Trucker Buddy once a month and the trucker buddy would send them a postcard every week. Newman would get out a map and the class would put pins where their Trucker Buddy had been.

Office Depot and OfficeMax stores recently launched a back-to-school binder recycling program in partnership with recycler TerraCycle. Shoppers can bring any empty binder to one of the stores and receive a $2-off coupon on a new binder purchase.

Office Depot has a Binder Recycling Program that encourages shoppers to drop off old binders through the recycling company TerraCycle instead of having binders be thrown away and go to the landfill. Shoppers can bring any old empty binder to an Office Depot or OfficeMax retail location and receive a $2 instant discount off a same-day binder purchase. Office Depot in Hammond is at 2260 W. Thomas St.