As parents, we’re all driven to do our best, but sometimes we need to just embrace the messy moments that inevitably come up... Instead of throwing old, unusable school supplies in the trash, find a place to recycle them. Staples offers cash back when you bring in old ink cartridges; TerraCycle will take your used pens, pencils, and markers; and Elmer's will take those old glue sticks off your hands.

This dynamic US-based company is active on four continents (including 11 EU countries), collecting difficult-to-recycle packaging, such as drink pouches, crisp bags, pens, toothbrushes, and turning it into new products including bags, benches, plant pots and watering cans. It works with consumer brands and operates local and national ‘brigades’, which collect items for recycling. Globally, TerraCycle has re-purposed more than 2.6 billion items of packaging. It is working to come up with solutions for other difficult-to-recycle but widely discarded waste streams such as disposable nappies and chewing gum.

That's right. Instead of throwing them away and adding that little bit to the landfill, give them to me. I'll take them to work where they are collecting them. In turn, a company recycles them and donates 2 cents (for each one) to an education related charity! Yet another way that small adds up to big when everyone pitches in! (with very little effort in this case!) How cool is that? Just set them aside in a bag and give them to me next time I see you!And then just keep collecting...Thanks!

In addition to the typical paper, aluminum, plastic, and electronics recycling, Evergreen collects hard-to-recycle items such as pens, markers, scotch tape dispensers, glue sticks, and granola bar wrappers and sells them to TerraCycle, a company specializing in upcycling. “They take these items and make new things out of them,” she explains. “It’s a great way to help a school with fundraising.” Students take all of these lessons to heart, Deal adds. “I’ve had students tell their parents not to buy a certain product because it has too much packaging. The more we model here at school, the more we’re teaching our whole community, and that’s good for everyone.”

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. At least that’s what the employees of Michigan International Speedway say. The staff of the track, in partnership with TerraCycle, have pledged to upcycle paper and plastic goods that would normally be thrown into the garbage. In return, TerraCycle will pay MIS Cares, the track’s charity component, up to two cents for every piece collected so the wrappers can be turned into cool, every-day products such as pencil bags, laptop cases, flower pots and toys. “We have pledged to do everything we can, not only as a business, but as individuals, to minimize our effects on the environment and set a positive example that ‘every little bit counts,’” speedway President Roger Curtis said. So what can be upcycled? Drink pouches, potato chip bags, candy bar wrappers, cookie wrappers, energy bar wrappers, pens, markers and highlighters — you name it. Just about anything can be upcycled by TerraCycle.