据世界自然基金会的报道，超过80%的海洋污染都是来自陆地生活，陆地人类的生活垃圾：塑料袋、塑料瓶、包装盒等等，如果没有适当处理，这些将最终流向大海。或许我们不以为意，自认海洋的宽广能包容一切，便忽视了它的有限与脆弱。全球每年流入海洋的塑料垃圾高达800万吨，这些颗粒物形体各异，大到塑料袋、塑料瓶、塑料网或鞋等，小到只有几毫米甚至更细小的颗粒。对于海洋中的生物们来说，这些塑料垃圾极具威胁性，随时都有被塑料袋缠住或者误食，导致死亡的几率。

L'Oreal are doing more for the environment than most government bodies. The cosmetics giant has joined forces with Terracycle which will collect and process all of our beauty products, recycle them and melt them into plastics ready to be turned into frisbees or park benches. L'Oreal encourage you to send in empty make-up products to save them from landfill, they'll even pay the postage. To learn more head to terracycle.com.au

The school works with an East Coast company whose goal is to eliminate waste by not only recycling but upcycling, the process of re-using items close to their original purpose. Students and staff of a Burr Ridge school are stepping up their efforts to be green by focusing on difficult-to-recycle products that, until now, ended up in the school's garbage cans. Trinity Lutheran School sends drink pouches, potato chip bags and cookie wrappers to TerraCycle in New Jersey, which recycles trash typically not recycled. The company has about 45 brigades worldwide of individuals and groups such as Trinity that collect and send garbage.

Spending time outdoors makes me hungry. That’s why picnics were invented. Who wants to have to go back INSIDE when you’re having so much fun OUTSIDE!? We have a cute picnic basket that, frankly, needs to see more sunlight. However, since it’s not insulated, I can only use it for quick trip-to-the-park picnics. For longer trips, I use an insulated cooler. Terracycle, Inc. sent us a roomy Ozark Trail 36 Can Cooler with Removable Hardliner. This particular cooler has a special hardliner – it’s made by Terracycle out of recycled Frito-Lay chip bags! And, it’s antimicrobial (no clue how that happens, but true!). The Ozark Trail Cooler from Terracycle has zipper and mesh pockets front and side pockets, as well as a 3″ expandable top for dry storage, so you don’t have to pack just cans. The 36-can size is perfect to hold one lunch for our family – we sit it between our seats, and I can grab snacks as we go and zip it back up! If we happen to stop, we don’t have to unpack the whole car, I just lift out the cooler and we’re ready to eat!

Summer is the season for outdoor parties and picnics, and it’s important to take care of the outdoors as you are enjoying it. Instead of filling up your trash can with empty food wrappers and plastic cups after guests leave, you can reuse the packaging yourself or send the waste to TerraCycle, where you can earn money for your favorite charity and keep things out of the local landfill at the same time. There are already some Brigade teams in the area, including Bentley School. TerraCycle, an innovative upcycling and recycling company, partners with brands such as Frito-Lay, Nabisco, Kraft Cheese, Solo, and Scott to reduce the amount of waste being thrown away. Some of the wrappers can also be used for do-it-yourself projects. An easy, crafty summer project is the do-it-yourself chip bowl, which can be made from a Frito-Lay chip bag, and then used for your next party! Or, you can turn your used Solo cups into herb planters for the porch or kitchen. For those who’d prefer to send their waste back to TerraCycle, they’ll earn two cents per item for a charity of their choice.

The Fourth of July celebrations will be in full swing this weekend. As you plan your party, think about what you will do with all the trash that is leftover. Some of these items can be sent to TerraCycle, an upcycling and recycling company with a unique point of view. They want to “Outsmart Waste”. TerraCycle works with large companies such as Frito-Lay, Nabisco, and Starbucks to “eliminate the idea of waste”. The waste generated by these companies is collected by schools, church groups, and other organizations as well as indivduals. The “trash”, shipped free of charge, is then turned into backpacks, speakers, pencil cases and more which feature the brightly colored packaging. Other items are used to make pictures frames, floor tiles and plastic lumber. These items are available online at www.TerraCycleShop.com, with some items, such as their new cooler, soon to be available at Wal-Mart.

Potato Chip Bags and drink pouches: TerraCycle operates around the world and turns otherwise unrecyclable goods into useable products such as fence made from drink pouches, recycling bins from recycled plastics (very clever), Starburst Insulated Coolers made from candy wrappers and more.

For those not familiar with "Terracycle", it is one of many organizations that work to create useful items out of waste products. "Terracycle", in conjunction with both consumers and people from within the food and beverage industry, collects empty and discarded items like foil cheese packets, foil beverage pouches, potato chip bags, gum wrappers, beverage bottles and other items. "Terracycle" then converts those items into a wide array of new items like insulated coolers, garbage cans, fences, plant food, household cleaners, photo frames, jewel cases, clothing and fashion accessories. Part of the proceeds from the sale of those items is in turn donated to area schools and non-profit groups.

In 2010 proof of the ever burgeoning green movement can be found throughout the stories that made it into the headlines of mainstream media. For instance, there were several stories of various young ladies creating prom dresses out of used gum wrappers and foil beverage pouches. In addition, more and more items made from recycled materials such as t-shirts made from ground up soda bottles began showing up in retail stores. This increase in repurposing materials has caused food and beverage manufacturers like Kraft Foods to stand up and take notice. Proof in point is the company's recent decision to add foil cheese packets to their pre-existing "Terracycle Collection Program."

This increase in repurposing materials has caused food and beverage manufacturers like Kraft Foods to stand up and take notice. Proof in point is the company's recent decision to add foil cheese packets to their pre-existing "Terracycle Collection Program." In Packaging Everything Old is New Again For those not familiar with "Terracycle", it is one of many organizations that work to create useful items out of waste products. "Terracycle", in conjunction with both consumers and people from within the food and beverage industry, collects empty and discarded items like foil cheese packets, foil beverage pouches, potato chip bags, gum wrappers, beverage bottles and other items. "Terracycle" then converts those items into a wide array of new items like insulated coolers, garbage cans, fences, plant food, household cleaners, photo frames, jewel cases, clothing and fashion accessories. Part of the proceeds from the sale of those items is in turn donated to area schools and non-profit groups.