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How to Ensure Your Recycled Packaging Actually Gets Recycled

TerraCycle Nespresso Include USA Entenmann's

Your recycled packaging may actually end up in a landfill. Here are tips to ensure your trash goes to the right place.

November 24th, 2020 blog sustainability ecommerce

There have been a number of discouraging headlines over the past few years about recycling. In 2019, China stopped accepting our recycling waste, causing a drastic increase in the amount of waste in landfills. There’s also growing doubt about the paper and plastic thrown into your curbside recycling bins, raising questions on whether or not it will ultimately be processed for reuse. The good news is, it’s not challenging to ensure your recycled packaging makes it back into the circular economy. Here are four easy steps to take:

Check With Your Local Government

Right now, there are over 9,000 curbside recycling programs in cities and towns across the U.S. Each of them has its own rules and procedures regarding what materials are accepted in their bins. Local governments typically publish their recycling policies online, detailing what kind of materials are accepted and what condition they must be in. A quick Google search of your town or city and the keyword “recycling” will likely lead you to the right page. You might also try using this resource by our partners at How2Recycle to find the information you need.

Know If Recyclables Can Be Picked Up Curbside

Most curbside, city-run recycling programs will accept paper, corrugated cardboard (including boxes), hard plastics, and aluminum. Some will also accept glass depending on their facility. Case in point: Just because your local government is unable to process something through their blue bin program doesn’t mean it can’t be recycled. In many cases, the same government website that provides details about your local recycling program will also tell you where you can recycle items they don’t accept. If you’re having trouble finding the information online, call the phone number listed on the website. As you’ve noticed by now in this phase of research, there are many types of plastic resins, some of which can be recycled curbside, and some which require drop-offs at special facilities. Fortunately, all plastic containers have a label dictating what kind of plastic it is, and this resource from the EPA provides more information about how to handle each of them. Pregis paper products, such as Easypack and Quantum brands, are commonly accepted items in curbside recycling programs. Other brands and products such as Sharp mailers, Astro-Bubble, and Airspeed inflatable cushions can be recycled through store drop off programs. Poly bubble mailers and poly non-cushioned mailers can be recycled in store drop offs as well, as long as paper labels are removed. Pregis’ Renew branded portfolio of products is also designed for the circular economy, providing additional sustainable benefits such as higher amounts of recycled content while maintaining performance, recyclability, and using less raw material. What’s more, in 2019, to help consumers understand best recycling practices for different materials, Pregis joined the How2Recycling initiative, printing simplified recycling information straight on products, so consumers know exactly how to handle them after use.

Properly Clean Waste Before Putting It in the Bin

Every city will have variations of what kinds of recyclables they can pick up curbside, but one rule that is universal is items must be clean in order to be processed. Here’s how to get started:

Thoroughly wash out all glass bottles and plastic containers before throwing them into the bin with soap and water, similar to washing dishes.
If you have a lot to recycle, it may be beneficial to run items through the dishwasher.
Don’t try to recycle soiled paper products. Used paper towels, napkins, coffee cups, and pizza boxes are never accepted by a processing facility.

Research Store and Manufacturer Recycling Policies

Though highly recyclable, flexible plastic films, such as bags, are typically only accepted for processing at store drop-off locations (for now). Next time you’re at a store, ask an employee if they accept bags. For additional help locating a store drop-off location, use this directory by How2Recycle. Plus, the Materials Recovery for the Future project is working on a program to show that flexible packaging materials (like bags) can be effectively collected and sorted through residential recycling programs while maximizing end market value — laying the groundwork for more convenient plastic bag recycling in the future. Manufacturers might have mail-in programs specifically for their products and packaging. This is especially true for electronics manufacturers, which often feature programs to collect old computers, cell phones, tablets, and lithium-ion batteries. (The EPA has a list of manufacturers that provide these types of programs.) There are even take-back programs as specialized as Terracycle’s Little Bites pouch recycling or Nespresso’s recyclable coffee pods. It may be tempting to be a “wish cycler” who casually tosses all paper, plastics, and glass into your recycling bin and hopes it gets processed — but this is a surefire way to send even more waste to the landfill. Following local instructions, and the rule "when in doubt throw it out," can sometimes be the best way to ensure your recyclables get recycled. For more information about helping customers reduce their environmental footprint, read our Pregis Purpose.

Keep Knoxville Beautiful participating in 3 Terracycle programs

TerraCycle Colgate Include USA Bimbo Bakeries Simple Truth

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Keep Knoxville Beautiful is participating as an official collection point for three Terracycle recycling programs.

According to a release, Keep Knoxville Beautiful is expanding its efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling by enabling the community to recycle hard to recycle items.

The recycling bins will be out Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and all day and night on the weekends, weather permitting.

Accepted items include:

All Bimbo Bakeries brands bread bags. People should make sure there are no crumbs left in the packaging to prevent unwanted pests.
All Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic brands flexible plastic packaging (i.e. bags, pouches, liners, and wraps). People should make sure there are no crumbs left in the packaging to prevent unwanted pests.
Colgate Local: People can recycle all brands of used or empty oral care products and packaging, including toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, dental floss containers, mouthwash bottles, etc. Do not include any electric toothbrushes, battery toothbrushes, and/or their parts.

Accepted items can be brought to the Keep Knoxville Beautiful office at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum at 2743-B Wimpole Avenue in Knoxville. The office is located just behind the Visitors Center above the garage.

Once the collection bins are full, officials will ship the recyclables to Terracycle for recycling.

You can find more information about the Terracycle recycling program at http://www.keepknoxvillebeautiful.org/recycling.

I Built A Quality Capsule Closet By Shopping Secondhand — Here’s How You Can, Too

TerraCycle Include USA

Like many people during the pandemic-induced shelter-in-place orders, I turned to improving my living space with all of the free time I suddenly found myself with. While many looked to revamping their at-home workspaces or repainting their living room, I cleaned out my clutter-filled closet — and then turned it into a capsule wardrobe.

As a writer that’s been covering fashion trends for years, shopping is not only my favorite pastime but also basically part of my job. Over the years, though, I had managed to collect so much clothing that it was causing me to feel like I was drowning in my own closet. And so, confined to the walls of my apartment, I decided it was time to give my wardrobe a makeover.

While I’ve always tried to keep sustainability in mind when shopping, by buying from ethical brands and shopping secondhand, I was still guilty of making a few fast fashion purchases each season. I often made impulse buys on a whim, which led to a closet full of clothing and accessories I wore once or, worse, never at all. With the pandemic, this became only more apparent: As I wore my new uniform of hoodies and bike shorts during most hours of spring, summer, and fall, my impulse buys gathered more dust in the back of the closet.

Inspired by fashion writer and influencer Stephanie Broek, I decided to create a capsule closet, a tightly curated and streamlined wardrobe made up of quality staples and statement pieces — one that I sourced as sustainably as possible. (I also had a move on the horizon, and my new closet space would be a far cry from the walk-in closet my husband and I were sharing, which I had already taken up 95 percent of.) And so I made a pledge to myself to quit shopping for new pieces entirely, promising to only buy secondhand and vintage pieces going forward.

After a week spent downsizing, a few months of sourcing “new” secondhand pieces, and a new physical closet later, I’m working with a wardrobe that's less than 50 percent of what it used to be, and 100 percent more wearable. Here’s how you can build a capsule wardrobe, too.

Assess what you already own

The first step in creating a curated closet is assessing the pieces you already own. The idea is to build a wardrobe filled with clothing you’ll wear again and again. With that in mind, take a look at the contents of your wardrobe and decide what doesn't fit that description.

After taking out the pieces you hardly or no longer wear, decide: What can you resell (to make money to reinvest into your new wardrobe), and what can you donate? Bring your items to sell at stores like Buffalo Exchange (which also offers Sell-by-Mail program) or Crossroads Trading, or mail them to be sold virtually at places like thredUP. You can also sell the clothing yourself on platforms like Poshmark, eBay, and Depop.

Before you think of tossing something just because it has a bit of wear and tear, consider taking the time to mend it. “It’s really important to fix nicer, classic items before buying new — for example, resoling a black bootie or fixing straps on a designer handbag,” says Cassandra Dittmer, a sustainable stylist, consultant, and expert. “Shifting your mindset to a place of taking care of what you already own is a powerful way to evolve as a consumer.” Fun fact: One of my favorite shoes is a pair of sculptural Marni sandals (pictured here) that I've gotten cleaned and resoled after finding them secondhand.

For pieces that may seem too far gone to salvage or donate, do some research on where you can bring them to be recycled (do not just throw them away as they’ll end up in landfills). Living in NYC, I drop off my unwanted clothing at donation bins from HELPSY, a textile recycling service that sorts through your old goods and recycles anything unwearable into rags for industrial use. If you don’t have a similar donation bin near you, look at store programs (Reformation, H&M, and Levi’s are just some of the brands that will take clothing from any brand) that will recycle them for you. You can also pay to ship unwanted clothing and textiles to be recycled through programs like TerraCycle.

Once you’ve sorted through what you already have (and hopefully made a few bucks in the process), you’re ready to start rebuilding your wardrobe.

Fill the clothing gaps

Every capsule closet should have a variety of classic pieces that won’t ever go out of style. Think items that have remained staples for the last few decades: trench coats, crisp button-downs, cashmere sweaters, blue jeans, black boots, blazers, etc. “These are the items you can wear any given day from year to year that never look outdated,” says Liisa Jokinen, vintage expert and founder of vintage search engine Gem, a platform that indexes vintage and secondhand items from all over the world (more on it below). “You can never go wrong with these items, and they’re easy to mix with anything. They’ll also save your day when you feel like you have nothing to wear.”

After looking at what remained in your closet, fill in the missing gaps. The good news is that all of these timeless pieces are usually available in excess pre-loved at places ranging from affordable thrift stores to luxury consignment boutiques. Prioritize what you need first by seasons. Did you let go of a bunch of old fast fashion, not-so-warm winter coats ahead of the cold weather? Start by investing in one or two practical coats that work with everything, like a simple trench or understated peacoat.

Getting dressed should be fun, which is why your closet should also include statement pieces. In this case, opening yourself up to vintage can lead to many one-of-a-kind options. “Shopping vintage is one of the best ways to experiment with funky and unique silhouettes,” says Dittmer. “It’s a great way to explore different eras of fashion and boundaries within your own personal style.” But while you should have fun, do think about the wearability of the piece. “I would avoid anything that feels too costume-y, it’s easy to get carried away when you’re shopping secondhand. I try to remind myself, if this piece was new, would I still buy it, or am I only liking it because it’s vintage? I still make sure it’s something I would reach for without the vintage clout.”

Jokinen recommends opting for statement items like jewelry, blouses, and shoes, or other “small accents that don’t make your whole outfit scream for attention.” This way, you can pair them with the classics you already own. “Think of combining the above-mentioned white blouse with a pair of dangling statement earrings, or blue jeans with a pair of shoes in a bright color.” For Dittmer, it’s all about subtle statement details, “like a pearl button or unique scallops.”

Of course, this doesn’t always have to be the case. If you find the perfect vintage floor-length sequined dress — something you probably wouldn’t wear every day, but you know you’d wear time and time again over the years — by all means, go for it, so long as it’s not an impulse purchase. My rule of thumb is: If I see something amazing in a shop or online that I can’t stop thinking about for a week or two, it’s worth buying. “The important thing to consider when shopping for statement pieces is that they should be purchased just as thoughtfully as your classic pieces,” says Dittmer.

What to invest in

Owning a high-quality wardrobe doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend a fortune. Thanks to shopping vintage and secondhand over the years, I have amassed a collection of built-to-last pieces I would have never been able to afford new.

That said, there are some things worth investing in — things you’ll be able to wear for literally decades to come, or easily resell when you're done with them. “Anything from Chanel to Hermès, to Gucci — those are the pieces you can always resell. Not necessarily for profit, but you won’t lose out on all your money,” points out Jokinen.

A few months into quarantine, I fell in love with a vintage Gucci Boston bag that I found on The RealReal. Despite it being older with a bit of wear and tear, it was still in good condition. It was pricier than I wanted it to be, but I knew it would last me, as long as I took care of it, and be worth it in the end. Not only was it a classic style — a medium-sized barrel shape with two top handles — but modern iterations of this style still make their way down current Gucci runways. Even at a higher price than some of my other purchases this pandemic, I still ended up paying a quarter of what these bags go for today.

Labels aside, there are a couple of wardrobe staples that are worth spending your hard-earned cash on to ensure that they last season after season; according to Dittmer, “investing in quality shoes, denim, and basics is a good place to start.”

On the other hand, there are some items that aren’t worth shelling out for that you can easily score at a wallet-friendly price (and without running to your local Zara), such as trendier styles that probably won’t be as in-demand a year from now. “Most of the current trends are so easy to shop secondhand, as fashion is largely inspired by past decades,” says Jokinen. “Things go in circles. Plus, by shopping trends secondhand, you can create your own interpretation of them and stand out, which is the fun part!”

For example. one trend that’s been having a moment for a few seasons is the puff sleeve dress. Why spend on a pricy designer item — or a cheap fast fashion duplicate — when you can find plenty of show-stopping pieces straight from the ‘80s? Not only will they be one of a kind, but as Jokinen points out, the quality of pieces over 20 years old is much higher than of clothes produced today, so they’ll last you much longer. That said, do look at what the item is made from when deciding on a purchase. “I would avoid cheap and synthetic fabrications and focus on natural fibers,” says Dittmer.

Still, if you really want to buy something of-the-moment from a buzzy contemporary brand, it’s possible to do so secondhand. There are plenty of people selling their gently worn pieces on platforms like Vestiaire, Depop, and Series. That’s where I’ve managed to nab pristine Orseund Iris knits and a Stand Studio coat without having to drain my savings account. It just might take you longer to find the exact piece you want.

Where to shop secondhand

With our ability to shop in person limited due to the pandemic, there's no longer the thrill of the physical hunt — digging through rack after rack in an overstuffed secondhand shop. However, we can thank the internet gods for giving us access to vintage and consignments from all over the globe and the ability to search exactly what we’re looking for. My new favorite way to shop is through Gem, a platform that aggregates a whopping 30 million products through major luxury designer consignment retailers, online marketplaces like Etsy and eBay, as well as thousands of independent vintage shops. Another great platform is Thrilling, an online marketplace that sells goods from over 130 small vintage stores across the U.S. Compiling an assortment of designer and no-name vintage, it offers a wide range of price points and highlights Black-owned vintage businesses.

For specific designer labels, whether a vintage handbag or something from a contemporary brand, I love shopping on The RealReal, Vestiaire, Heroine. Platforms like Depop, ThredUp, and Poshmark are also great for more affordable brands.

There are also plenty of independent vintage e-commerce stores to choose from. Personally, I love The NXCVintage Shop for in-your-face colors and prints, Mirth Vintage for neutral wardrobe staples, Berriez for a size-inclusive assortment of colorful statement pieces, The Break for an incredible curation of quality shoes and bags, and Singulier MTL for chic ‘60s and ‘70s retro wares.

Months after beginning this journey, my closet is much more cohesive, and it takes me significantly less time to get dressed. Despite reducing what I owned by 50 percent, I feel like I now have more options because I have pieces that are more wearable and can be mixed and matched together in a number of ways.

I constantly reach for my classics: the vintage men’s blazers I’ve had for years, my newly downsized collection of denim, basic turtlenecks and tees for layering, Dr. Martens boots, and a vintage burgundy Helmut Lang trench coat my husband scored for me a while back. While filling the gaps, I’ve added a tan leather trench, a handful of plain men’s button-downs, and a vintage leather blazer à la Nanushka into the mix. Next on my list are a simple leather skirt and a pair of high-rise trousers.

In terms of statement pieces, I still cherish my collections of vintage long-sleeve maxi dresses and colorful mini bags, as well as a pair of vintage platform Prada boots and the aforementioned Marni sandals. However, some of my favorite statement items I own were pandemic purchases: the floor-length logo-covered Fendi winter coat of my dreams, a leather Zayna Bayne harness bra, a satin bustier, and a chunky chain link necklace — all secondhand purchases.

While I’ve taken the pledge to quit shopping new for the time being, does that mean I’ll never buy another new thing, ever again? Likely not, but, the next time I do choose to, I’ll be much more mindful about what I’m purchasing and who I’m supporting. From brands upcycling deadstock fabrics to ones that have adopted a circular fashion model, there are plenty of small, independent brands, who are trying to combat fashion waste, to turn to should I fail to find something secondhand. “We have so much access to wonderful clothing that I now prioritize brands that are transparent and ethical and that deserve my investment,” confirms Dittmer.

Ultimately, when building a sustainable capsule closet, it’s about starting with what you have in your current closet and changing your consumption habits to be more mindful in the future. Think through each purchase, whether it's secondhand or from a sustainable label, and make sure it’s something that you’ll wear after the current season comes to an end. Most importantly, take care of the clothes you wear so that you can keep wearing them — and so that someday, someone else can, too.

Christmas Gift Guide 2020: Gifts For Kids!

TerraCycle Include USA Vtech/LeapFrog

Looking for some gifts for kids this year that may not be on their wanted list? I have some fun, educational, new, and creative gifts for kids that you may want to add to your list of what you are going to get your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or any special child you are giving gifts to this year!

The creators of the KIBO™ robot kit, announced the release of the new KIBO Home Edition line. Available for a limited time, this line was created to support parents and children during the pandemic, especially those with limitations on in-person school attendance. The KIBO Home Edition Robot Kit provides families an affordable way to bring a playful, screen-free coding and engineering toy home for the holidays and for years of creative enjoyment. The affordable new KIBO Home Edition introduces young children to coding and robotics, inspiring parents, children, and siblings to engage and collaborate. With KIBO, children ages 4–7 create, design, decorate, and bring their own robot to life. Children build onto KIBO with familiar arts and crafts materials, engaging in imaginative play and storytelling that motivates and guides their learning. They can tell stories, choreograph dances, create a robotic vehicle to explore a cardboard town, create an animal habitat, and more. “We’ve heard from many parents who are struggling to find new ways to keep their children engaged and excited about learning when schooling is limited or remote,” said Jason Innes, KinderLab’s Director of Curriculum, Training, and Product Management. “Unlike so many other ‘tech toys’ for young kids, KIBO is screen-free, open-ended, and creative. KIBO is based on extensive research about how young children learn abstract concepts like coding and the design process—and that’s by getting off the screen and engaging with physical toys, movement, and concrete play.” It is super easy to get the robot to move – you just scan command cards and tell it what to do. Then you can do some really cool things with it like you’ll see in some videos here! Botley the Coding Robot The Botley the Coding Robot helps your child learn early STEM skills while playing and having fun. He teaches kids to code with active, screen-free play that’s perfect for promoting critical thinking and problem solving skills. Botley is ready to code right out of the box and will have your kid coding in minutes! Botley features completely screen-free coding; no phone or tablet required. Botley’s easy-to-use remote programmer transmits your commands and sends him rolling. Botley’s smart logic lets him detect objects in front of him and avoid them. He can also follow looping commands, take on obstacle courses, and follow black-line paths. He even has hidden features to unlock! This is a more affordable STEM robot your kids can use at home. My girls have programmed a few obstacle courses for Botley to get through and it’s been a fun STEM learning activity in our household! Vivia Colors Gift Set A perfect wholesome gift for an artist, hobbyist, or anyone who is interested in art and watercoloring. The Gift Set includes:

1 x Personalized Wooden Case
1 x Viviva Colorsheets
1 x Waterbrush

Every Viviva Colorsheets Set comes with:

16 Incredibly Vibrant Colors
An inbuilt reusable Mixing Palette
Special Water Resistant sheets to separate different colors
Color-Coded sheets for easy use

Personalize this premium African Maple wooden cover set with a Name and a Message. Gift it to someone you love, or to yourself! I personally can’t wait for my oldest daughter, who loves to paint with acrylics on canvas, to come up with some amazing pieces of art using this watercolor set! 500Thames & Kosmos CREATTO™ Light-Up Crafting™ Kits Creatto™ is a simple yet versatile building system that consists of just two primary components that can be woven together into countless 3D creations. The flexible yet durable plastic tiles interlock quickly and easily for all skill levels; no additional materials or hardware required! Each Creatto kit includes assembly instructions for four different configurations, but the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Add strings of colored LED lights to illuminate your works of art from the inside out. Creatto is available in 3 fun sizes: mini, medi, and maxi. Kids can choose to build: Moonlight Elephant Safari: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Magical Moose & Forest Friends: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Starlight Kitty & Cutie Crew: Ages 8+ MSRP: $19.95; Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95; Sparkle Unicorn & Friends: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95. With the dark days of winter, this is the perfect craft idea to keep the kids busy during Christmas break. They can display it in their rooms and add some calming light to the room to embrace the winter peace that comes during these months.

EXIT EXIT: From Thames & Kosmos – The Game is a series of party games for up to four players that offers a unique, unforgettable gaming experience. These games allow you to bring the excitement, intensity, and team spirit of an escape room to your living room. In each EXIT game, your team starts out locked in an imaginary room, or trapped somewhere. You must solve a series of riddles and puzzles in order to unlock doors and reveal new riddles. Each correct solution brings you to another riddle and eventually to freedom. EXIT is constantly expanding with new stories. AGES 10+ MSRP: $14.95. I can’t wait for when my entire family is on vacation during Christmas for us to have a “family night” where we bust out this game and help eachother solve the riddles so we can have an escape room experience right in our own home! Flip Over Frog – from Hub Games Help your brightly colored frogs take control of your tiny corner of the rainforest. Pay attention and cleverly place your frog tiles, causing those around you to flip face down OR face up. When all squares are occupied, the game ends and the player with the most face-up frogs is the winner. Suitable for all ages, Flip Over Frog packs a surprisingly tactical area control game into a small portable box. Suitable for players ages 6 and up. MSRP: $15.00 Again, this sounds like a fun “family night” game that all of us will enjoy this winter! Magformers Basic Plus 14pc Set Create 3D structures from 2D nets with Magformers Basic Plus 14Pc Set. Build with 4 Squares, 8 Triangles and 2 Inner Circle Square shapes. Create houses, towers and our ‘magic ball’. Learn to build using combine, roll and pull-up techniques and see what your imagination can create! Build along with the step-by-step instructions and develop color and shape recognition, fine motor skills and problem-solving ability. The original and authentic Magformers. Perfect for brain development, critical thinking and STEM education. Follow the Step-by-step educational idea booklet for ideas and instructions. Each geometric shape contains magnets that never reject, so you’ll always hear the Magformers click. When playtime is over, use the magnetic power to simply stack and store. MSRP: $24.99; ages 3+. My daughters LOVE the Magformers sets they already have. I’m going to gift this set to my 2 1/2 year old nephew this year who I know will love creating structures using these Magformers! Air Dry Clay For Kids – 36 Colors For Slime, Molding MOM’s CHOICE AWARD RECIPIENT. Our modeling clay set passed the stringent testing and high standards of MCA and was given the Gold Award! This very soft modeling clay is great for fun based schooling to keep kids away from electronics. Easy to use – even for little hands in a kindergarten classroom. Kids will love this cool set with so many colors and it is also non-toxic, gluten and nut free; We have a Children’s Product Certificate according to CPSIA requirements Stimulating Vibrant Colors: 36 Colors in .70 oz bags (1.59lbs) with limitless ideas for new creations and the clay is reusable My daughter has been begging me for air dry clay. She wants to make different hairstyles out of it for her LEGO people! Cocoa’s Cranky Christmas: Can You Cheer Him Up? This delightful interactive holiday book features zany minimalist art, a grumpy dog named Cocoa, and a sleigh full of ideas for how your own little elf can cheer him up! It’s the most wonderful time of the year for everyone—except one cranky pup. What will it take for Cocoa to have some Christmas cheer? Your toddlers or preschoolers will giggle with delight when Cocoa finally gets in the Christmas spirit–thanks to their helpful coaxing! Printerpix Choose from a range of templates to create your own custom mink touch blanket. Upload your photos or choose stock images, choose the layout, add text and clip art…make it your own and get creative with our easy-to-use online design tool. This soft and cozy mink touch blanket comes in a range of sizes and is perfect for every occasion. Decorate your baby’s nursery, cuddle up under it on the couch, throw it on the bed, keep it in the car… A great gift idea for your loved ones, these soft and silky personalized blankets are perfect for all the family! I personally have a mink touch blanket on order and can’t wait to share pictures when it arrives!

The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be – By Joanna Gaines The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be follows a group of diverse children as they each build their very own hot-air balloons. As the kids work together, leaning in to their own skills and processes, to fill the sky with beautiful colors, readers discover that the same is true for life–it’s more beautiful when our differences are celebrated! With plenty of pink, a bounty of blue, orange and green and yellow too, this vibrant hot-air balloon adventure celebrates every child’s one-of-a-kind strengths as well as teamwork and acceptance of differences. This timeless message of sharing our individual gifts is especially important in our world today. Everything can be made more beautiful when we kindly share our talents and abilities, lend a helping hand, and do our best to take care of one another. This has got to be a lesson not only for our kids, but for adults too during this season! A little more acceptance of our differences can go a long way to increase peace in this nation, during turmoil many of us have not seen in a lifetime! Screen Grabbers From Wild Republic Screen Grabbers are the perfect “home-school” pals. Screen Grabbers provide an animal friend that decorates a computer screen and covers the camera as needed during on-line class. Screen Grabbers can also dust your screen with a fun twist. Choose from the six designs available this fall with more coming in the spring to add to the collection. Available on Amazon in November 2020. If your child is feeling lonely while they school from home during the pandemic, one of these screen grabbers from Wild Republic may help cheer them up! Pillowkins from Wild Republic New from Wild Republic and considered to be the “the next teddy bear,” comes Pillowkins – fun, brightly designed pieces that combine a pillow with a plush animal to create the perfect go anywhere friend. With twelve styles available this fall, there is one for every child. Available on Amazon in November 2020 You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior – This game was created by award-winning game creator Allen Wolf, lets you test your bluffing skills with completely new questions that range from thought-provoking to zany. The game can be played in person or remotely. During the game, players choose a question from the cards within the book. The secret flip of the coin tells them if their answer should be true or made up. When players hear a story, they vote points on if they think a player is telling the truth or pulling their leg. Players win points if you’re right but lose them if you’re wrong. Players try to bluff others and try not to let other players fool them. The first player to 21 points wins.You’ll be surprised how much you learn about other players in a short amount of time.

Kiwi-Co Boxes

To try a Kiwi-Co box, you first pick a line – Tadpole, Koala, Kiwi, Atlas, Doodle, Tinker, or Eureka. Each of those is for a different age group and/or interest. The science and art projects inspire kids to become creative problem solvers. When you choose your plan, either just one box for a monthly plan, 3, 6, or 12-month plans at the cheapest at $18.50 per box. The first crate ships in 2 days. Pause or cancel anytime! You can read my full review of Kiwi-Co over here! You can use promo code MERRY for Black Friday Savings! Now thru the end of the year, save 60% off your first month with code EARLY That’s $39.95 for 3 months, $17.95 for 6 months (2 months FREE), and $159.95 for 12 months (4 months FREE)*! *savings based on $19.95 per month, Eureka and Maker crates may vary You can also save 50% off your first month when you join their e-mail list!

TerraCycle Toy Recycling Program:

Today VTech® and LeapFrog®, world leaders in state-of-the-art developmental learning products for children, announced the launch of a free, national recycling program for select electronic learning devices and electronic toys, in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle. The newly announced recycling program allows fans to easily send in select VTech and LeapFrog electronic learning devices and electronic toys to be properly disposed and recycled. For every shipment sent to TerraCycle, collectors earn points that can be donated to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice. Awarded TerraCycle points can be allocated toward a variety of charitable gifts or redeemed as a payment of $0.01 per point to the non-profit organization or school of your choice. Each VTech and LeapFrog electronic learning device and electronic toy sent in will earn approximately 320 TerraCycle points and will be counted based on an average unit weight of 3.2 pounds. I hope this list has caused some inspriation on new toys to put under the Christmas tree this year. I’d LOVE some feedback if you buy any of these as to what you and your kids thought of them! Thanks so much and Happy Holiday’s!

Got old VTech & LeapFrog Toys? Now You Can Recycle Them For Free

TerraCycle Include USA Vtech

When I look back on all of A.J.’s old electronic devices and his very first tablets or electronic games as a preschooler, I either donated them or passed them along to a family friend. But then what? I don’t know where they ended up when they eventually stopped working. They’re considered eWaste. They’re the electronic devices we use, get tired of, and often don’t know how to dispose of. Or if we toss them in the trash, they’ll be in landfills for more years than we want to count. Adults may be guilty of collecting phones, tablets and laptops that sit around. Unfortunately, our children are not too far behind. The devices they love can be donated or re-sold, but at some point, they end up in the trash. Just in time for the 2020 holiday season, VTech and LeapFrog partnered with a recycling company so you can toss your child’s old electronic learning tools without feeling like you could do something greener.

Eligible Toys for Recycling

A select group of VTech and LeapFrog toys can be recycled at no cost to you. Chances are you have at least one of them sitting around in a toy box. Eligible VTech and LeapFrog toys range from infant, to toddler to preschoolers. Here’s the rest of the eligible toy list.

Sparta Middle School Wants Your Candy Wrappers

TerraCycle Include USA ZWB

SPARTA, NJ – The Green Team at Sparta Middle School is collecting candy wrappers. The student organizer Abby Weisbeck said the group was looking for a project to “make Halloween more green.” The wrappers brought in by Sparta will be added to many others ultimately to be collected by Terracycle. Weisbeck said their internet research led them to the organization with will take the wrappers and turn them into park benches, tables and playground equipment. TerraCycle offers recycling programs for items that are difficult to recycle. For this campaign they are accepting individual, multipack and family size snack bags and wrappers, including candy, chip and granola wrappers. Food waste and carboard cartons are not part of this initiative. The Green Team’s co-advisor Douglass Crouse and Cara Johnson said they are partnering with Subaru of Newton’s general manager Chris Dexter. Weisbeck said she is working with Bridget and five others though “many more students helped out.” The Green Team was formed last year, Weisbeck said but this is the first project they took on this year. She said they were inspired by a “plastic free” day initiative in the school last year and from “talking with other students.” They are still collecting wrappers and plan to continue through the school year. “This is the first year,” Crouse said. “In future years, we hope to expand to other schools."

Sparta Middle School Wants Your Candy Wrappers

TerraCycle Include USA ZWB

The Green Team’s co-advisor Douglass Crouse and Cara Johnson said they are partnering with Subaru of Newton’s general manager Chris Dexter. Weisbeck said she is working with Bridget and five others though “many more students helped out.” The Green Team was formed last year, Weisbeck said but this is the first project they took on this year. She said they were inspired by a “plastic free” day initiative in the school last year and from “talking with other students.” They are still collecting wrappers and plan to continue through the school year. “This is the first year,” Crouse said. “In future years, we hope to expand to other schools.”

Textiles & TerraCycle Recycling Drive

TerraCycle Include USA

SalemRecycles' annual Textiles (and TerraCycle) Recycling Drive is Saturday, Nov. 21 from 8:00am - 1:00pm. Look for the HELPSY truck in Riley Plaza. WHY TEXTILES? -- Textiles are valuable resources that can be reused, cut into rags, or ground up into new products! They can't be placed in curbside recycle bins where they become "tanglers," and they needn't go in the trash. DROP OFF -- clean & dry clothing, sneakers, shoes, boots, slippers, belts, ties, purses, stuffed animals, comforters, sheets, blankets, table linens, and curtains. ANY CONDITION -- as long as clean and dry. Can be new and reusable, old and moth-eaten, torn, stained or damaged, broken belt, single sock or shoe. Damaged textiles are recyclable. PLEASE, NO -- carpet, rugs, pillows, bric-a-brac, oil rags, wet or mildewed items. NEW THIS YEAR -- We've partnered with TerraCycle to have special collections for shaving razors and Swiffers. TerraCycle offers recycling solutions for otherwise hard-to-recycle items. -- Swiffers: save all used, dried Swiffer pads. -- Razors: save all brands of reusable and disposable razor units, blades, & cartridges, as well as any flexible or rigid plastic packaging they come in. -- Separate: please keep textiles & Swiffers & razors separated in your vehicle. * * * SOCIAL DISTANCING * * * Please stay in your vehicle the whole time and have your items ready to unload in your trunk, truck bed or hatchback -- items will not be unloaded from car seats. Please wear a face covering the whole time. For more info, contact Micaela Guglielmi at mguglielmi@salem.com or 978-619-5672.

Amazon: Yankee Candle Large Jar Candles as low as $12.34 (Reg. $28+) + Free Shipping – FAB Ratings!

TerraCycle Include USA Newell Brands

Hop over to Amazon and get a deal on Yankee Candle Large Jar Candles. Light these to get rid of odors in your home. These are made of quality paraffin grade candle wax and have a burn time of 110-150 hours. Get these for as low as $12.34 for Midsummer’s Night. Choose to Subscribe & Save, and you will score a great deal. Just make sure you have 5 or more items in your monthly order to max out the available discount of 5% = $12.34! Subscribe & Save shipping is free! Be sure to check more scents choices – Prices vary! Here are other items you can add to your Amazon Subscribe & Save order so that you get your 5% off, and check out my post with Amazon Subscribe & Save Tips!

Yankee Candle Large Jar Candles as low as $12.34 (Reg. $28+) + Free Shipping – FAB Ratings!

22 ounce scented candle measures 6.6 inches H x 4 inches D
Natural fiber candle wick delivers the best burn for each fragrance
100% recyclable in partnership with TerraCycle
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City of San Diego recognizes schools and nonprofits working to reduce waste in the workplace

TerraCycle Include USA Cigarette Recycling Program

The City of San Diego is recognizing 10 local businesses and organizations that implemented or expanded innovative waste reduction and recycling programs. From establishing a cigarette butt collection and recycling program, to creating a system to track solid waste tonnage to identify diversion opportunities, the 2020 Business Waste Reduction and Recycling Award winners displayed forward thinking in their programs. These businesses and organizations are helping the city reach its Climate Action Plan goal of achieving Zero Waste by the year 2040. The list of winners, recognized for work completed in 2019, includes:

LJ Crafted Wines — Wine membership utilizes reusable bottles with swing tops that are returned and exchanged for a sanitized bottle where customers choose which wines they want, directly from the barrel. This avoids single-use bottles, foils, corks and cartons.

San Diego County Regional Airport Authority — Established a cigarette butt collection and recycling program. The butts are collected and shipped to TerraCycle which composts the cigarette paper and tobacco. The plastic filters are recycled and turned into outdoor benches and tables. A total of 17 pounds were collected in 2019.

San Diego Mesa College — Composted 16.34 tons of pre-consumer food scraps from campus cafeterias and coffee shops for use in the on-campus garden.

University of California San Diego — All construction and demolition projects are required to divert 75 percent of debris from the landfill.

San Diego State University — Implemented the SkySpark solid waste tracking system: an online, interactive waste dashboard that tracks tonnages specific to buildings on campus to help analyze and identify diversion opportunities.

Jansen R&D (Johnson & Johnson) — Efforts taken to become a paperless facility, such as a switch to digital signage to reduce the number of posters and flyers, and canceled subscriptions to scientific paper publications encouraging use of the centralized library with online journals.

Hazard Center — Hosted annual Recycle/Spring Clean Up event for tenants to properly dispose of items that do not belong in the recycling container.

San Diego Zoo — “Recycles” electricity via a one-megawatt energy battery that stores and discharges energy during peak hours to assist with park operations.

Sharp Healthcare — Diverted 4.2 million pounds of material from the landfill. This included composting 500,000 pounds of food waste and reprocessing 106,000 pounds of surgical instruments. Expired, unusable medical equipment was donated to the nonprofit Ssubi is Hope.

San Diego Food Bank— “Turbo Separator” takes unopened but damaged and inedible cans, boxes, and jars of food and separate the food from the packaging for compost and recycling, respectively.