TerraCycle, Inc. and Old Navy are partnering in a month-long drive to collect used flip flops and recycle them into four public playgrounds around the country. Everyone with unwanted used flip flops is encouraged to participate by stopping by an Old Navy store to deposit used drop those thongs into designated collection bins. This is the first time a nationwide retailer has initiated a large-scale effort to collect and recycle flip flops.

11-04-28-- Banner Press

You know we have all seen the little garden starter kits. They have been around for years. Northrup King use to have one when I was a kid for tomato plants. Poke holes in a plastic tray, water, sit in a sunny window sill and you have a little green house of tomato plants. Well, Terra Cycle, on of my favorite companies, takes it to a new level, The sell growing kits for kids made from up-cycled Stony Fields yogurt containers, with a growing medium made from compost and their famous worm poop. They sell them in a Vegetable kit, Herb Kit and a Flower Kit

Since you need some new shoes anyway, why not gather up those old, smelly flip flops and turn them into something good–like a playground. That's right. The Old Navy store at Arbor Place Mall is accepting your old flip flops and then recycling them into playgrounds which will be donated to communities throughout the country. They're also accepting flip flops from your parents, children and other relatives as well, so don't forget to go through their closets too. The drive for old shoes started on April 22 and will continue until May 21. There is a brightly colored box in the front of the store to collect the shoes.

Solo party cups can have a second life under a new national recycling initiative launched by Solo Cup Company. The company announced it is joining forces with TerraCycle to create the Solo Cup Brigade - individuals, schools and non-profits that will collect used Solo Squared plastic cups and return them to TerraCycle for recycling. The recycled material will be used to make other items such as equipment for playgrounds, park benches and outdoor furniture. For every Solo Squared cup received, 2 cents will be donated to Keep America Beautiful or the non-profit or school of the collecting Brigade member's choice.

With summer approaching, coastal residents and visitors alike are dusting off their flip-flops to see if they are fit for another tour of duty. While some will be deemed worthy of another whirl on the Lincoln City sands, others face one final journey to the trash can. But now, one local retailer is offering these tired specimens a chance for a whole new life — to support the pitter patter of tiny feet as part of a children’s playground. Old Navy has partnered with New Jersey-based recycling firm TerraCycle to collect old flip-flops and transform them into four playground surfaces across the country. Stores across the country, including the Lincoln City branch at the Tanger Outlet Center, started collecting on Earth Day, April 22, and will continue to accept donations through May 21. Kerry Emmons, Old Navy district manager for Oregon, said the company is hoping for a strong response.

Old Navy shoppers can participate in the Flip Flop Replay by depositing their used flip flops in colorful collection bins found inside any Old Navy store, including the St. Louis Park location. The St. Louis Park Old Navy store is located at Knollwood Mall, 8332 Hwy. 7. The collection runs through May 21. TerraCycle, based in Trenton, N.J., will then recycle the flip-flops into material used on playgrounds, which will be donated to communities across the country.

Just because Earth Day is over recycling still should be on our minds. Old Navy locations in the Eau Claire area have teamed up with TerraCycle to run Earth Month collections. Now through Saturday, May 21, Old Navy shoppers can deposit their used flip flops in colorful collection bind inside any Old Navy store. TerraCycle will recycle the flip flops into playgrounds that will be donated to communities around the country. It seems fitting that flip flops, shoes that scream summertime fun, will become playground equipment for children to enjoy. TerraCycle is an international upcycling and recycling company that encourages consumers to rethink waste and have a positive impact on the environment. By bringing in these hard-to-recycle products, consumers help keep waste out of their community landfills.

In an effort to further reduce waste, TerraCycle, Inc. and Old Navy are partnering in a month-long drive to collect used flip flops and recycle them into four public playgrounds around the country. The community is encouraged to participate by stopping by an Old Navy store to deposit used flip flops in designated collection bins. This is the first time a nationwide retailer has initiated a large-scale effort to collect and recycle flip flops. All Old Navy stores across the U.S. are participating from April 22, 2011 through May 21, 2011. This is a great opportunity to clean out tattered and ugly flip flops and repurpose them. You'll be keeping plastic and rubber out of the landfills and making a good excuse to go and buy some new ones

Old Navy has partnered with TerraCycle to collect flip flops and transform them into playgrounds.