TerraCycle <http://www.terracycle.net/>  has an extensive, far-reaching recycle-able materials collection system running nationwide.  These collected bottles, lids, wrappers, bags and more are brought together and recycled into so many cool (and once again useful) products:  From purses to shower curtains to flower pots.  As their “Terracycle” saying goes, “Send us your trash, and we’ll make it into cool products!”

Opt for greener ways to plant your seedlings. Photos: Green Nation Gardens <http://www.greennationgardens.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=T3900>  and TerraCycle <http://www.dwellsmart.com/Products/Gardening-Tools-and-Supplies/TerraCycle-Natural-Fiber-Pot-Natural-10in> When you start those seedlings, there's a greener way to sow your seeds. Instead of using plastic pots, create easily biodegradable seedling pots out of newspaper with this Paper Pot Maker ($15) from Green Nation Gardens. If you aren't planting directly into the ground, the greenest option would be to reuse a container you already have. If you're in the market for a new vessel, we like TerraCycle's Biodegradable Fiber Pots and Saucers made from rice husks, and bamboo and coconut fibers. (We're also big fans of the company's organic Garden Fertilizer  – it's made from worm poop!)

Unfortunately, just like in most towns, there’s a limit on what sort of materials they accept. Which is why whenTerraCycle emailed about their program I was so excited! TerraCycle is a small (but growing!) company that takes normally non-recyclable products and turns them into cool and useful stuff.

Launched in January, the charitable campaign asks only that you bring your used corks to any ABC Fine Wine & Spirits store, which in turn gives the corks to Normacorc and TerraCycle for recycling into such products as corkboard. And for every cork turned in to ABC, two cents is donated to charities chosen by the retailer — including UCP of Central Florida, which provides therapy and other services to children with disabilities.

Around here we are doing our best to minimize waste, buying things with less packaging, using more cloths than paper towels to clean up, and frankly, eating the kind of food that doesn’t come wrapped in plastic (amen?) but there will always be left overs. The food we feed OBaby’s when we’re traveling comes in pouches. Yes for heaven’s sake we eat chips from time to time. And cereal. But TerraCycle came up with innovative and adorable ways to reuse whatought to be waste. I absolutely love this idea. TerraCycle diverts packaging waste from landfills and helps raise consumer awareness about reducing, reusing and recycling.  By encouraging people to rethink ‘what is waste,’ TerraCycle is making it simple for consumers to have a positive impact on the environment. YOU can actually be on the recycling end of the equation by sending them your used packaging, including empty baby food pouches to be upcycled into baby-related items such as diaper wallets, bibs, backpacks and totes. Neat, huh? Participation is free and all shipping costs are paid.

Benjamin Banneker Elementary School students earned two cents for each juice drink pouch they collected and returned to a company called TerraCycle, which makes products from packaging waste. Last school year, the students collected nearly 3,700 pouches, and the money raised will help teachers purchase instructional materials. More than 70,000 schools and community groups around the country have signed up to help collect more than 100 million used pieces of packaging. The participating organizations collectively earned more than $2 million this year. Interested organizations can learn more at www.terracycle.net.

  when you have kids, you tend to start thinking about things you may not have before. like garbage, landfills and what part you can do to help said kids have a better place to live long after we are gone. going green is such a big part of every day life these days (or at least, it should be – even small steps help). so i was thrilled to hear from TerraCycle and jumped on the opportunity to help them spread their mission. TerraCycle is a small company who takes non-recyclable waste (and pays 2 cents per piece to charity) and turns them into upcycled and repurposed eco-friendly items. they take the things that most of us throw in the trash, because we can’t throw it in the recycle bin, and make pencil pouches, binders, tote bags, shower curtains and picture frames – just to name a few. think capri suns, doritos, skittles and other packaging. they even take soda bottles and remake them into containers for dog shampoo and garden fertilizer.

Great companies are built on good ideas. Entrepreneur magazine’s story, 100 Brilliant Ideas, highlights some of the best concepts that spawned startups. For the Green section, 10 companies were highlighted, including TerraCycle, Advanced Electron Beams, Bloom Energy, Environment Furniture, QD Vision Inc, RavenBrick, Recycle Match, Relay Rides, Terra Plana, and The Green Garmento.

Wind is partnering with TerraCycle, a manufacturer of some 50 eco-friendly products sold at major retailers like WalMart and Target. TerraCycle also runs national collection programs that pay non-profits to collect used packaging. In Dallas, Wind Foundation advisor Cheryl Jensen, a leadership consultant and executive coach, has recruited 25+ restaurants and wine bars to participate in the Cork Brigade.

  Wind is partnering with TerraCycle, a manufacturer of some 50 eco-friendly products sold at major retailers like Walmart and Target. TerraCycle also runs national collection programs that pay non-profits to collect used packaging. In Dallas, Wind Foundation advisor Cheryl Jensen, a leadership consultant and executive coach, has recruited 25+ restaurants and wine bars to participate in the Cork Brigade.