“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” as the saying goes. For TerraCycle founder Tom Szaky, it was more than a saying—it was also his business plan. Founded in 2003, TerraCycle takes your garbage—everything and anything you could throw away or recycle—and transforms it into consumer products like cutting boards, reusable grocery bags, and even yard fencing.

All Saints has earned more than $150 by collecting empty applesauce pouches to recycle through a partnership with TerraCycle, Inc., which collects and re-purposes hard-to-recycle, post-consumer waste ranging from used potato chip bags to cigarette butts. The waste is collected through free, national, brand-funded platforms called “brigades,” as well as various consumer and government-funded models. All Saints Catholic School is working with TerraCycle to collect empty applesauce pouches for recycling in the GoGo squeeZ Brigade.

Candy wrappers: These go in the trash, since most wrappers are made from a nonrecyclable plastic film. Terracycle.org, however, does accept some candy wrappers as part of its various “brigades.” Schools can earn money by choosing a brigade to participate in, collecting the wrappers from students, and sending the box of wrappers to Terracycle.

Students at Cascade Ridge Elementary School are saving the environment one applesauce pouch at a time. The school is making a difference this year by recycling their lunchtime waste with TerraCycle, a leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste. Cascade Ridge students have already collected 1,257 empty applesauce pouches this year.

Students at Cascade Ridge Elementary School are saving the environment one applesauce pouch at a time. The school is making a difference this year by recycling their lunchtime waste with TerraCycle, a leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste. Cascade Ridge students have already collected 1,257 empty applesauce pouches this year.

And of course there's me, in my Capri Sun Dress, Halloween 2009!  I can't even tell you how heavy that was!  All juice pouches went to TerraCycle, and only a few safety pin stabs were mine!

Today at assembly we learned about TerraCycle with Susan Whitman!  She reminded us of all the products we use each day that can often be TerraCycled.  Did you know that juice boxes have to be thrown away in the garbage, but that juice pouches can be TerraCycled?  Ask your child what other cool TerraCycle facts he/she learned today at assembly!

You can also check out online stores like Etsy for creative homemade products made with secondhand materials. TerraCycle, for instance, has an Etsy shop featuring a variety of items made entirely out of waste!

Consider making something like an edible cornucopia as your centerpiece, and decorate with a variety of autumn leaves, pinecones, and seasonal fruit or gourds. The Design Junkies here at TerraCycle have also created some simple do-it-yourself projects to help you decorate, such as this napkin ring or these custom name cards made from items you normally throw away!

The Mudgee Post Shop was identified in the Top 5 Australia Post recycling locations in NSW and Australia Post encouraged local Mudgee residents to continue their positive recycling habits during National Recycling Week November 9-15.