Terracycle, a Trenton company that specializes in recycling consumer goods generally considered not reusable, is moving on from kitschy tote bags to plastic lumber.

Solo Cup Company announced it is joining forces with TerraCycle®, Inc. to recycle its Solo Squared® party cups.  Through the Solo Cup Brigade <http://topics.sacbee.com/Brigade/> ®, individuals, schools and non-profits can collect used Solo Squared plastic cups and return them to TerraCycle where they will be recycled into plastic that will be used to make other items such as equipment for playgrounds, park benches and outdoor furniture.

TerraCycle is an international upcycling company that takes difficult to recycle packaging and turns it into affordable, eco-friendly products.  Founded in 2001, they are the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle works with over 30 major brands in the U.S. (and in a growing number of other countries) to collect used packaging and products (chip bags, candy wrappers, juice pouches, pens, toothbrushes, etc.) that would otherwise be destined for landfills. Here are a few of their programs if you are interested in learning more about how YOU can reduce your carbon footprint and upcycle your trash!

  To help celebrate Earth Month, Earth Day, Easter and Cinco de Mayo, TerraCycle is launching several campaigns that put a new spin on recycling, making it more creative then ever and easy for everyone to get involved. On April 11, TerraCycle will join with the Garnier Brand to provides the first comprehensive solution for all cosmetic packaging waste. Billions of pieces of waste are expected to be collected by Garnier which will dramatically reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.  Through the sponsorship of worldwide Cosmetics Brigade, cosmetic packaging will be collected and shipped to a TerraCycle facility. All kinds of cosmetic waste that would otherwise end up in our trash can now be recycled or reused. This is huge. Not too long ago I was discussing reusing and recycling cosmetic waste. Now Garnier and TerraCycle offer a fabulous solution.