By Jan Schroder I’m rather demanding of my beach tote. It has to be large enough to hold a towel, book and sunscreen, have smaller pockets to stash my phone and of course be cute enough to make a fashion statement on the beach or poolside. Here are our picks for some winners this season. Act fast to score this limited-edition Kate Spade bag sold exclusively at Shutters on the Beach and online at ShuttersBeachStyle.com for $198. Only 100 of these blue-and-green print beauties are available. The animal-themed canvas bags from Bungalow360 come with three interior pockets and a color-coordinated polka dot lining. Check out the site’s full line of other bags and accessories starting at just $5. $36 at www.bungalow360.com Durable and lightweight, these totes from TerraCycle are made from reclaimed fabric discarded in the manufacture of tents. The front has a zippered pocket to keep small items safe. $48 at uncommongoods.com

Every time you send your old flip-flops to TerraCycle, you’ve done a green deed for Mother Nature by diverting waste from our landfills. To show our gratitude, for every shipment of 25 pairs of flip-flops received (about 18 pounds), you will receive exclusive coupons from Old Navy to distribute to the participants who helped you collect. It’s totally free to participate in a TerraCycle Brigade. There are no signup or participation fees, and the shipping is covered by the program. Once you’ve joined the Flip-Flop Brigade, follow the steps below to earn your Old Navy coupons: Collect 25 pairs of flip-flops (all brands are accepted) and fill up a box or bag. Remember to always reuse a shipping box or bag and use eco-friendly padding as needed. To receive your Old Navy coupons, you must ship at least 18 lbs, or at least 25 pairs of flip-flops. Download a pre-paid shipping label from terracycle.com. Just visit your TerraCycle account online, and click “SHIP US YOUR WASTE”. You can print it out yourself or request a label from TerraCycle. Ship the box to TerraCycle by affixing the pre-paid postage label and dropping it off at a UPS location. For more detailed information please check out the Flip-Flop Brigade FAQ. It will take approximately 7 to 10 business days from the date your shipment is received for TerraCycle to process your package. Once processing is complete, you will receive your Old Navy coupons through postal mail. Download our helpful TerraCycle "Collect, Store and Ship Guide" for tips and tricks that will make the collection process simple and mess-free. Old Navy is proud of their partnership with TerraCycle and is committed to reducing waste and thinking green. Flip-Flop Brigade accepted waste: Rubber flip-flops (any brand) If you would like to send in other types of shoes, please check out the Paired Shoe Brigade.

I’m rather demanding of my beach tote. It has to be large enough to hold a towel, book and sunscreen, have smaller pockets to stash my phone and of course be cute enough to make a fashion statement on the beach or poolside. Here are our picks for some winners this season. Act fast to score this limited-edition Kate Spade bag sold exclusively at Shutters on the Beach and online at ShuttersBeachStyle.com for $198. Only 100 of these blue-and-green print beauties are available. The animal-themed canvas bags from Bungalow360 come with three interior pockets and a color-coordinated polka dot lining. Check out the site’s full line of other bags and accessories starting at just $5. $36 at www.bungalow360.com Durable and lightweight, these totes from TerraCycle are made from reclaimed fabric discarded in the manufacture of tents. The front has a zippered pocket to keep small items safe. $48 at uncommongoods.com

Die Spiele-App »Trash Tycoon« soll das Umweltbewusstsein fördern Ein von zwei Israelis entwickeltes Spiel könnte der ganz große Hit unter den Facebook- und Smartphone-Games werden – und nebenbei das Umweltbewusstsein der Nutzer schärfen und sie für das Thema Recycling begeistern. Raviv Turner und Dan Goldman erdachten »Trash Tycoon« mit ihrer Firma »Guerilla Apps«, weil sie »als umweltbewusste Unternehmer ein Spiel kreieren« wollten, »mit dem wir die Masse der Menschen, die in sozialen Netzwerken spielen, erreichen«, wie sie in einem Interview mit einer auf Spiele-Applikationen spezialisierten Internetzeitung betonten. Inspiriert wurden die beiden Mittdreißiger nach eigenen Angaben dabei »vom Geschäftsmodell der Firma TerraCycle, die Abfall zu höherwertigen Produkten recycelt«. Beta-Phase Das Konzept scheint aufzugehen: Bereits mehr als 200.000 Nutzer hat das Spiel schon, obwohl es immer noch in der Beta-Phase steckt, also noch getestet wird. Auch Firmen wie Kraft konnte man bereits für das Prinzip der spielerischen Müllentsorgung gewinnen – Käseverpackungen können zu wertvollen Lunchboxen verarbeitet werden, für Mülltrennung in der realen Welt sollen die Nutzer zusätzlich Extrapunkte im Spiel erhalten. Prominente wie der frühere US-Vizepräsident Al Gore und der Hollywoodstar Leonardo DiCaprio lobten Trash Tycoon bereits. Was für die Macher immens wichtig ist, denn »ein hervorragendes Spiel zu machen, kostet viel Geld«, wie Raviv Turner betont. »Man braucht eine Mindestanzahl an Softwareentwicklern, Kreativen und Marketingleuten. Ein Spiel wie Trash Tycoon zu entwickeln, kostet eine Million und mehr.«

Tom Szaky steht am Rand der Düsseldorfer Bahnhofsstraße und wühlt im Mülleimer. »Ist doch wunderbar«, ruft er, »daraus kann man so viel machen!« Entzückt fördert er Zigarettenkippen und Plastikbecher zutage. Im Müll wühlen, das ist Szakys Geschäft. Im Jahr 2001 hat er in den USA die Firma Terracycle gegründet. Terracycle sammelt im Auftrag von Unternehmen Müll, lässt ihn sortieren und schafft daraus neue Produkte. Mittlerweile setzt das Unternehmen jährlich 20 Millionen Dollar um und unterhält Sammelprogramme in über 20 Ländern. Seit er vom Wirtschaftsmagazin Inc. 2006 zum »CEO Nummer eins unter 30« noch vor Facebook-Gründer Mark Zuckerberg gewählt wurde, wird Tom Szaky in seiner Heimat der grüne Zuckerberg genannt.

Do you have a pile of rubber flip-flops from last summer? There may be a better place for them instead of the landfill down the street. Terracycle is a web-based recycling service that has a goal to eliminate waste by finding clever ways to reuse non-recyclable items, such as tooth brushes and potato chip bags. But it's not a typical drop-off site where someone else organizes the clutter. To participate in up-cycling, material must be gathered in bulk by a team and meet defined expectations. The material is used to create household, office and gardening products. The up-cycled items are for sale at Terracycle's online shop, and some are available at stores including Walmart and Target. Old Navy has created the Flip-Flop Brigade ®, and is asking people to recycle their flip-flops. In return, Old Navy will send you valuable coupons. There is no participation fee to join the brigade, and the shipping cost is covered by the program. Collect 25 pairs of flip-flops, or up to 18 pounds, of any brand and fill up a box or bag. Download a pre-paid shipping label from terracycle.com. Ship the box to TerraCycle by affixing the pre-paid postage label and dropping it off at a UPS location. Terracycle was founded by Tom Szaky in 2001. With more than 28 million registered users, Terracycle boasts to be one of the "fastest-growing green companies in the world." To learn more about Terracycle brigades, or to participate in this one, visit http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/oldnavy.html.

Meet this sixth-grade science teacher at Paxon Hollow Middle School who has been in the industry for 12 years. Marple Newtown Patch is featuring great teachers in the Marple Newtown area who deserve some spotlight. Teachers give a lot to their students, schools and studies and we'd like to recognize them and say a simple, thank you, for all that they do. Meet this middle school teacher science teacher who has a passion to be eco-friendly. Name: Kelly A. Dougherty School: Paxon Hollow Middle School Grade/Subject: Sixth Grade / Science Years in the Industry: 12 Teaching History: I started teaching in Marple in 1999 as a first-grade teacher at Worrall Elementary. I was there for seven years and loved every second of it. After my second daughter was born, I was assigned to Paxon Hollow Middle School. What do you like most about your job? What I like most about my job is the rewards that come with seeing a child grow as person throughout the year. In September, the new students enter the building nervous and excited about the year ahead. Being a part of their growth process, seeing them accept the challenges, and become independent learners is the most enjoyable part of teaching. Why did you become a teacher? When I was in elementary school, my parents decided to send us to private school. I switched schools when I was going into second grade. It was a tough transition but my teacher, Ms. Kennedy, made the transition so easy. She was a very loving, nurturing teacher. That’s when I decided that I wanted to be a teacher and help students like she helped me. What do you like best about your current school (projects, programs or activities that your school is a part of): Last year, I started a Recycling Club. I had three students join the club. We teamed up withTerracycle, a company that takes our trash and turns it into recycled products, such as pencil cases, binders, bags, etc. Last year’s program was such a success that we were able to expand our recycling efforts to include paper. This year, I have over 50 students participate in the recycling club. Every Monday, the students are assigned to sections of the school and empty the recycling bins in each of the classrooms. Once completed, the students are responsible for transporting all of the recycled materials to the bin outside. I am amazed at what a success this program has become in such a short time. The kids stop me in the hallways each week asking if we are going to recycle and are disappointed when it is cancelled. One of the major achievements of the Recycling Club was the awarding of a $1,000 grant for collecting the most cellphones out of all the participating schools. The success of this program could not have come without the help and support of Principal Steve Subers, Mr. Flood, Mr. Gretchen, and Mrs. Petty! About this column: Marple Newtown Patch is dedicating this feature called "Behind The Chalkboard" to highlight some of the teachers who deserve recognition, and to simply get to know these educators. For any nominations, email them to marplenewtown@patch.com.

“From a corporate perspective, you want to align your brand with organizations that have a good track record but also align closely with your ideals." Turner wanted his gaming company to make money, but he also wanted it to benefit society as a whole. To make this happen, Guerillapps decided to team up with corporations, such as TerraCycle, Carbonfund.org, TreeHugger, and Kraft, who were already encouraging recycling. The company combined their two passions: recycling and gaming and the end result is a product called Trash Tycoon, which integrates real-life recycling with the advancement of the online game.