TerraCycle collects all kinds of hard-to-recycle items (did you know you can recycle flip-flops?) and repurposes them into new products, ranging from recycled park benches to upcycled backpacks. Additionally, each Brigade program provides an opportunity to raise money for non-profits and schools.

To get started, visit the TerraCycle website.

McLoughlin Elementary is starting a recycling program through a company called TerraCycle. With this program McLoughlin students can opt to recycle several different types of household materials with a goal of keeping these items out of the landfill and to raise money for the school.

LIHU‘E — A Kaua‘i Community College student is attempting to introduce a recycling program that would ship waste to the Mainland annually, with hopes that it would pay for itself over time. Britney Gurkin, a freshman biochemistry major with a goal of eventually pursuing a doctorate, has taken the lead in an effort to bring an innovative recycling program to Kaua‘i.

While writing a previous article on green dental care, I found out about a great company called TerraCycle, which offers a program to accept “non-recyclable or hard to recycle waste,” such as toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes. After looking at the website , I decided TerraCycle deserved an article of its own! Started by a young Princeton student, TerraCycle began as a small business that sold worm casting fertilizer in used soda bottles. TerraCycle started expanding its business by producing various products out of post-consumer waste, such as pencil cases out of used CapriSun drink pouches. This process, called upcycling, involves producing new, useful products out of waste materials and useless products that otherwise would go to the landfill. So, upcycling helps reduce landfill waste and reduces resource use. TerraCycle quickly grew into a global project with over 20 countries now participating in their upcycling efforts.

When the glue sticks lose their sticky, the markers dry up and the tape is tapped out, we usually throw them out. In the course of the school year, that can add up to a lot of classroom waste. But what if those small, leftover parts could find a new life outside of the landfill?

TerraCycle has the answer: upcycling, or converting waste products that would not normally be recycled into useful items.

The Trenton, N.J.-based company has long teamed up with area school and civic groups to collect landfill-bound trash like juice pouches and candy wrappers and turn them into useful products, including back-to-school gear like totes, pencil cases and lunch bags.

The list of participating Capital District schools continues to grow and includes Shaker Road Elementary, Eagle Point Elementary, Bethlehem Central Middle School, Lynwood Elementary in Guilderland, North Colonie Central Schools, Bradt Primary School in Schenectady and Stevens Elementary in Ballston Lake.

The company relies on participants to help spread the upcycling message.

“(Schools find out by) reading about us … and word of mouth,” said PR Director Lauren Taylor,

Over the years, TerraCycle has added to the list of things collected for upcycling, which now includes glue stick containers and old computer mice.

Following the collection, scientists analyze what the packaging is made from. “From there, we can see where it has value,” said Taylor.

This year, the schools involved with TerraCycle will be participating in the second “Box that Rocks” contest. In this contest, participants try to produce the most creative collection bin for TerraCycle Brigade items. The winning team can earn extra money and TerraCycle prizes.

“Some locations have fun with collection boxes,” said Taylor.

A lot of schools in Southwest Virginia are are teaching recycling but Huddleston Elementary is taking it to a whole new level. The Bedford County school is small with 220 students but those students are recycling and trying to save the planet on a much bigger scale. They're taking part in a nationwide program called TerraCycle Brigades. TerraCycle turns what they recycle, or "upcycle" into tote bags, lunch boxes or watering cans. And they don't just collect your typical water bottles or boxes. "We moved to chip bags and cookie wrappers and writing utensils and glue sticks because those are products that I thought we're going to have," said teacher Amy Mallow. "Our kids ever day at lunch have capri suns and chips and cookies, that's easy for us and as a school, glue products, the glue packaging and writing utensils." Part of what makes Huddleston Elementary so successful is this is really a community effort as well. They tell everyone they encounter. Teachers say they don't mind asking for or bringing trash in from events to recycle. Kids also take the message home so they can do more recycling. "At my house now we get to recycle those kinds of things when we're done with our stuff at our house I can bring it here and recycle it," said 5th grader Hannah Nichols. They've recycled more than 64,000 pieces of waste, according to TerraCycle. For all their effort, Huddleston Elementary earned almost $1300.