FROM SOLO CUPS TO SWING SETS, THESE ARE ALL RECYCLABLE ITEMS. When most people think about recycling, they picture empty cardboard boxes and plastic water bottles. But there are so many other old items hanging around your house that you can also recycle. Many companies will even pay you to bring these recyclable items in, simply because they are hard to come by and, well, there is no Planet B. Keep reading to learn about some of the surprising things that are actually recyclable and next time, think twice before you simply toss something in the trash.  

There are a lot of ways to take good care of your skin.   You can keep it simple with a two-step cleanse-and-moisturize or experiment with double cleansing, layering serums and creams, K-beauty, masks, scrubs, and high-quality SPF (Yes — you should use this all year round). But, shouldn’t the products you use be as kind to animals as they are to your skin? Whether your skincare routine is a simple wash in the morning at night or a double-cleanse followed by layering serums and creams, there are now plant-based options for every step. But, what is plant-based skincare?   What Is Plant-Based?   You may have noticed an influx of skincare brands calling out “green,” “natural,” or “plant-based” ingredients. It can be confusing — but, plant-based typically means that a product or brand features plant-derived ingredients. This can mean a serum uses squalane — a lightweight moisturizer that helps balance oil production — made from sugarcane or olive oil instead of shark’s liver Plant-based glycerin is made from vegetable oil, instead of fatty animal oil.   But here’s where it gets tricky: Skincare made with plant-based ingredients isn’t always vegan. There are no labeling laws governing “plant-based” skincare must be free from animal-derived ingredients, so you might see a brand advertising its ingredients as “plant-based,” while also featuring ingredients like honey. Plant-based, vegan skincare is free from honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen (although a vegan version may be widely commercially available in the coming years), keratin, and non-vegan squalane and glycerin. Cruelty-free and vegan labels are becoming the new norm, but cosmetic animal testing is still prominent. Humane Society International (HSI), a nonprofit animal rights organization, estimates that anywhere between 100,000-200,000 animals die for cosmetics tests every year. They are rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and mice. Tests include skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are dropped in the eyes or rubbed onto exposed skin, oral force-feeding to monitor potential health hazards, and lethal dose tests. According to HSI, “tests can cause considerable pain and distress including blindness, swollen eyes, sore bleeding skin, internal bleeding and organ damage, birth defects, convulsions, and death. Pain relief is not provided and at the end of a test the animals are killed, normally by asphyxiation, neck-breaking or decapitation.”   In 2018, The Body Shop and anti-animal testing organization Cruelty Free International, delivered a petition calling for a global ban on cosmetic animal testing. It was signed by 8.3 million people.   So, why do cosmetics companies still test on animals? HSI notes that companies tend to conduct tests when introducing new ingredients that don’t have existing safety data, which needs to be generated to satisfy regulators before a product can be introduced to the market. But are animal tests absolutely necessary? According to HSI, there are a number of non-animal testing methods that are just as effective in determining safety and efficacy if not more so.   Companies can also use ingredients already proven safe. But, there are a few roadblocks. There aren’t non-animal tests for every single test area required for new ingredients. And, regulators tend to be conservative, sticking to the mentality of “this is the way it’s always been done.” New tests are being introduced — more than 40 alternatives have been developed, according to HSI — and nearly 40 countries have banned cosmetic animal testing. Even China, which is notorious for its cosmetic animal testing requirements, is working with regulators and nonprofits to eliminate mandatory tests.

Companies Embrace Plant-Based Ingredients

  As cosmetic animal testing becomes increasingly obsolete, brands are turning to fully vegan formulas and blending botanicals with biochemistry to create products that are food for your skin and good for animals. Here are 19 brands to try.

1. PLANT Apothecary

  PLANT Apothecary was founded in 2012 by Holly McWhorter and Bjarke Ballisager, a husband-and-wife duo who sought to create gentle, environmentally-friendly skincare products that could be used by the whole family.   It is on a mission to combine healthy, organic, eco-friendly, and vegan ingredients with clean, straightforward packaging. Its products are unisex, USDA organic, and free from synthetic ingredients like petroleum, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and silicones. The brand follows principles of herbalism and aromatherapy to create effective, gentle products suitable for all skin types.   WASH YOUR FACE is a gentle, fragrance-free organic aloe cleanser that won’t dry out your skin. It’s fragrance-free and lightly-sudsing, perfect for doubling as a shaving cream. It features aloe, a skin-soothing moisturizer with anti-inflammatory properties that helps protect the skin from UV damage and lemongrass, which has antioxidant properties and is used to relieve anxiety in aromatherapy. PLANT Apothecary is unisex and vegan.

1. PLANT Apothecary

  PLANT Apothecary was founded in 2012 by Holly McWhorter and Bjarke Ballisager, a husband-and-wife duo who sought to create gentle, environmentally-friendly skincare products that could be used by the whole family.   It is on a mission to combine healthy, organic, eco-friendly, and vegan ingredients with clean, straightforward packaging. Its products are unisex, USDA organic, and free from synthetic ingredients like petroleum, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and silicones. The brand follows principles of herbalism and aromatherapy to create effective, gentle products suitable for all skin types.   WASH YOUR FACE is a gentle, fragrance-free organic aloe cleanser that won’t dry out your skin. It’s fragrance-free and lightly-sudsing, perfect for doubling as a shaving cream. It features aloe, a skin-soothing moisturizer with anti-inflammatory properties that helps protect the skin from UV damage and lemongrass, which has antioxidant properties and is used to relieve anxiety in aromatherapy. Plant Apothecary is gentle and effective.   The CALM DOWN body wash is a concentrated body wash with an eco-friendly, low-water formula — so a little goes a long way. The gel has a honey-like texture made with only eight ingredients, including soaps made from organic coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil. It’s enriched with ginger and lavender essential oils, specifically chosen to help ease a stressed-out mind at the end of the day. Ginger promotes concentration and is known to help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Lavender also doubles as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, making it an effective fighter against acne, swelling, and redness.   Find PLANT Apothecary’s products online through their website or on Ulta.com. Every ingredient has a purpose at Herbivore Botanicals.

2. Herbivore Botanicals

Vegan skincare brand Herbivore Botanicals makes products that are safe and effective. Brand founders Julia Wills and Alexander Kummerow believe in only including ingredients that have a purpose — so, there are never any fillers. Formulas are all made from scratch using the finest raw materials from the earth and finished products are tested only on humans. The company makes a wide variety of products, including exfoliating serums, facial oils, toners, moisturizers, masks, and bath salts.   Check it out here. Meow Meow Tweet wants to do right by the planet.  

3. Meow Meow Tweet

Small-batch vegan skincare brand Meow Meow Tweet makes skin and body care products using natural, organic ingredients. The brand believes in crafting formulas as if they were recipes, carefully selecting ingredients to create effective products. It also works to have a lower ecological footprint. Meow Meow Tweet offers bulk refill bottles for several products, which can be returned to the company when finished to be sterilized and reused. It will also Terracycle hard-to-recycle plastic parts in its packaging.   Check it out here. Youth to the People is gender-neutral.  

4. Youth To The People

Los Angeles-based vegan brand Youth to the People makes skin products for all skin types and genders. It pairs nutrient-dense superfoods with clinical actives, ranging from kale and green tea to AHA and glycolic acid. Products are free from dimethicone, mineral oil, parabens, PEG, phthalates, silicones, artificial colors, and sulfates. You can even visit the R&D lab in the Arts District to see how products are made. Everything is packaged in recyclable glass bottles.   Check it out here. Odacite uses wild-grown botanicals.  

5. Odacite

Made in Van Nuys, California, Odacite is cruelty-free, vegan, and committed to using effective and pure ingredients. Founder Valierie Grandury was inspired to create the brand after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She began making custom-blend products for herself and clients. Word spread fast, leading her to officially launch the company. Odacite formulates its products with organic potent botanicals that are wild-crafted or grown without chemicals. Products are free from parabens, fillers, preservatives, PEG, and synthetic perfumes and dyes.   Check it out here. Look no further for budget-friendly skincare than E.L.F.  

6. E.L.F.

E.L.F. makes cruelty-free, vegan, and budget-friendly skincare products. The majority cost less than $15 and are suitable for a wide variety of skin types, from acne-prone to oily and dry.   Check it out here. COSRX targets the root cause of skincare troubles.  

7. COSRX

Cruelty-free and vegan-friendly K-beauty brand COSRX gets its name from a combination of “cosmetics” and “rx.” Its product range has gained an international following for its no-nonsense approach to skincare, using effective active ingredients that target the root cause of a multitude of skin concerns ranging from dry skin to clogged pores and sun protection. All vegan products are clearly marked on the website. Bestsellers include the Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, the One Step Original Clear Pad, and the Hydrogel Very Simple Pack.   Check it out here.

8. Osea

Based in Malibu, Osea specializes in organic, luxury vegan skincare that harnesses the power of the sea. The company uses organic seaweed infused with steam-distilled and cold-pressed essential oils to create formulas that fight fine lines and blemishes. All products are free from parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals. Founder Jenefer Palmer, dedicated to animal rights and the environment, is committed to producing only vegan products.   Check it out here. Isle of Paradise moisturizes and builds a summer glow.  

9. Isle Of Paradise

UK-based brand Isle of Paradise makes cruelty-free, vegan self-tanner products that do more than just help maintain a summer glow all year round. Its Self-Tanning Drops are made with organic tanning actives, plus moisturizing avocado, chia seed, and coconut oils. It’s free from parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, and phthalates.   Check it out here.

10. Korres

Greek cosmetics brand Korres is strictly against animal testing — all tests are conducted in the company’s own lab using new technological innovations, like in vitro (using synthetic skin cells) or human volunteers. The brand clearly labels all vegan products under the “Formula Facts” section of each product page. Korres carefully research every ingredient for clinical efficacy and sustainability, using medical herbs, native Greek flora, food, and natural actives. Its plant also employs more than environmental management programs throughout production, packaging, and storage. Popular products include the Vitamin C Active Brightening Oil, the AHAs & Enzymes Resurfacing Mask, and the Foaming Cream Cleanser.   Check it out here. Acure products address a wide variety of skincare concerns.  

11. Acure

Acure’s motto is “100% Vegan, 0% Pretentious.” The brand was developed by hair and skincare enthusiasts who aim to make products that are safe, effective, and accessible — the majority of products cost under $20. Acure has a number of skincare lines to address different concerns, ranging from acne to dry and damaged.   Check it out here. Biossance is known for its sugar cane-based squalane.  

12. Biossance

Plant-based skincare brand Biossance uses innovative biotechnology to create its formulas, drawing from both science and sustainability. It’s best-known for its vegan squalane, derived from renewable, ethically-sourced sugarcane, that’s suitable for all skin types. The company also supports missions for social good. It was founded by a team of Berkeley scientists who developed that created an accessible cure for malaria. To this day, the company donates a portion of profits to Zagaya, a nonprofit that works to eradicate malaria. Its production processes cause no deforestation and products are packaged in Sugarcane and Forest Stewardship Council-certified boxes.   Check it out here. Thank You Farmer features skin-soothing ingredients..  

13. Thank You Farmer

Thank You Farmer is a natural K-beauty brand that creates natural, soothing products for sensitive skin. The company prioritizes effective, safe ingredients for its ranges, which include acne, anti-aging, firming, brightening, and sun protection. The company’s products are available on K-beauty retailer SOKO Glam, which clearly labels vegan products. Best sellers include the Back To Iceland Cleansing Water and the Back To Pure Daily Foaming Gel Cleanser.   Check it out here. The Ordinary sells high-quality skincare ingredients for a budget price.  

14. The Ordinary

The Ordinary is a budget-friendly, vegan skincare brand from DECIEM, an umbrella brand that focuses on creating advanced functional beauty products. The company earned a strong cult following by selling luxury skincare ingredients at wholesale prices. Its serums, moisturizers, oils, and treatments range from just over $6 to just below $15. The website makes it easy to pick what’s right for your skin by breaking down concerns and offering suggested regimens.   Check it out here. Atrue embraces the power of tea.  

15. Atrue

Atrue is a cruelty-free Korean skincare brand. Its signature ingredient is black tea. The company sources its tea from Compagnie Coloniale, France’s oldest tea brand. packed with antioxidants, Black tea provides a number of benefits for skin. Atrue also uses green tea, which is known to soothe skin and help fight inflammation. Bestsellers include the award-winning Real Black Tea True Active Essence, the Darjeeling Black Tea First Anti-wrinkle Essence, and the Real Black Tea True Active Mask.   Check it out here. Sunday Riley’s Good Genes serum is a cult hit.  

16. Sunday Riley

Cruelty-free luxury skincare brand Sunday Riley blends advanced, clinically proven ingredients with botanicals to create small-batch, clean beauty products. It’s mostly vegan, free from synthetic fragrance, mineral oils, and sulfates, opting for flower and plant extracts and gentle cleansers instead. Good Genes, C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil, and the U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil.   Check it out here. Farmacy partners with organic farms.  

17. Farmacy

Cruelty-free, “farm-to-face” brand Farmacy uses science to unlock the benefits of ingredients found in nature. The company has partnered with organic farms around the world to source potent, natural ingredients and create effective skincare. Its Green Clean Meltaway Cleansing Balm has a strong fanbase. All products are free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and synthetic fragrances. A handful of products use beeswax and honey.   Check it out Clean beauty brand Drunk Elephant is free from the “Suspicious 6.”  

18. Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant is a cruelty-free skincare brand committed to making “clean” products. The company selects only ingredients that either “directly benefit the skin’s health or support the integrity and effectiveness of our formulations.” It never uses what it labels the “Suspicious 6” — essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS (sodium laureth sulfate). Try the Protini Polypeptide Cream, the T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial, or the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser.   Check it out here. Klairs is ideal for sensitive skin.  

19. Klairs

Cruelty-free and mostly-vegan Korean brand Klairs believes in making products that are simple, but enough to deliver results. Since 2010, the company has been researching different raw materials and ingredients that work best for sensitive skin. It also takes its time — “no matter how long” — in introducing new products, all offered at a mid-range price. The brand is working toward making its entire range vegan. Try the Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop, the Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil, or the Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish.  

Did you know that if we properly recycled 28% of our waste stream in Colorado, the effect would be equivalent to removing about 485,000 cars from the road annually? That’s according to the Colorado Public Interest Research Group’s State of Recycling report. While recycling can be confusing, it’s one of the most practical, impactful and useful solutions to tackling our climate crisis.   Recycling is all about markets, so the recyclability of a material depends on its market value and how and what it can be re-manufactured into. Those markets dictate what you can put in your curbside recycling, our community drop sites and bins at work. That means recycling, just like product values, can change and fluctuate.   More and more companies are creating closed loops for their products by using their own recyclable materials to make new products, becoming a part of the solution rather than contributing to our recycling challenges. Companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi are making developments so their bottles are not only recyclable but made from recycled material as well.   In general, it is much less resource-intensive to make a product from recycled materials than to use “virgin” materials. For example, the Aluminum Association’s research states that making an aluminum can from recycled aluminum uses about 90% less energy than making a can from scratch. Furthermore, any aluminum can you purchase is likely to have already been recycled: 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.   There are lots of other markets and stakeholders at play beyond our local recycling collection too. For example, some hard-to-recycle materials that we can’t put in our curbside bins can be processed through companies like TerraCycle. Regardless of how deep you dive into recycling markets, it is important to be mindful of the impact you can make by purchasing thoughtfully and recycling right.   Here are some tips to get started.   1.    Plastic bags and other plastic films can be recycled at the Avon Walmart among other locations. Learn more at PlasticFilmRecycling.org.   2.    For a list of hard-to-recycle products that you can ship for free through TerraCycle, visit TerraCycle.com/en-US/brigades#.   3.    Be careful of common recycling mistakes. Not all plastics are recyclable. Plastic bags, plastic utensils and paper plates with a plastic film/coasting cannot be recycled in curbside bins or community drop sites. Avoid purchasing these items whenever possible, and opt instead for materials that can be diverted from landfills.   4.    Reducing waste is even better than recycling or composting. Use reusable cups, plates, bowls, bags and utensils whenever possible. While many events in the Eagle Valley require vendors to provide consumers with compostable products, using reusable items has even less of an impact on the environment.   5. If you’re ever unsure if a material is recyclable locally, check on the Eagle County Waste Wizard app. You can search products, learn what goes where based on your hauler and recycle right.   Jake Watroba was a summer sustainability intern at Walking Mountains Science Center. For more information, contact Nina Waysdorf at ninaw@walkingmountains.org.

Your Halloween candy wrappers could be turned into park benches or flower pots thanks to the initiative of a Sherbrookoise.   "Refuse, reduce and recycle are basic rules of zero waste. There is a limit to refusing and reducing sweets to children on Halloween. So we looked for a way to recycle, "says Hélène Boissonneault, instigator of a project that aims to recover all the candy packaging instead of throwing them in the trash.   The company she co-founded, PH Effect, offers lectures and workshops for a minimalist lifestyle, zero waste and decluttering.   To reduce the environmental impact of this holiday that is ranked third in terms of spending behind Christmas and back to school, the entrepreneur decided to do business with the company Terra-cycle. The latter is responsible for recovering waste that is not normally recycled in municipal collections.   The company recovers, in twenty countries in the world, packaging, pens, coffee capsules, latex gloves or even shoes.   50 collection points   The operation is simple: just buy a Terra-cycle box online depending on the type of products you want. The garbage is dumped - in this case the candy wrappers - and the box is returned to the company.   The latter then takes care of sorting the waste, according to the materials, and sending them to companies that reuse and transform them.   "They take the waste and bring it back to a raw material that they send to the right places so that it can be used to produce other objects [such as park benches]," explains Ms. Boissonneault.   This is the first year that the entrepreneur has set up this project specifically for Halloween and she was surprised by the interest aroused by her initiative. Daycare centers and schools in Estrie, as well as businesses from as far as Rouyn-Noranda, contacted her.   "We had 4 or 5 collection points initially in the Sherbrooke area, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and on the North Shore of Montreal. We were happy, but the interest is so great that we are now at a [50] pickup locations throughout Quebec, "rejoices Ms. Boissonneault.   All but cardboard   The packaging of candies, chocolate, gums and even small bags of potato chips can be collected.   Only small cardboard boxes, such as the Smarties, are not allowed since they are already recycled in the municipal recycling system.

"Refuse, reduce and recycle are basic rules of zero waste. There is a limit to refusing and reducing sweets to children on Halloween. So we looked for a way to recycle, "says Hélène Boissonneault, instigator of a project that aims to recover all the candy packaging instead of throwing them in the trash.   The company she co-founded, PH Effect, offers lectures and workshops for a minimalist lifestyle, zero waste and decluttering.   To reduce the environmental impact of this holiday that is ranked third in terms of spending behind Christmas and back to school, the entrepreneur decided to do business with the company TerraCycle. The latter is responsible for recovering waste that is not normally recycled in municipal collections.   The company recovers, in twenty countries in the world, packaging, pens, coffee capsules, latex gloves or even shoes.  

50 collection points

  The operation is simple: just buy a Terra-cycle box online depending on the type of products you want. The garbage is dumped - in this case the candy wrappers - and the box is returned to the company.   The latter then takes care of sorting the waste, according to the materials, and sending them to companies that reuse and transform them.   "They take the waste and bring it back to a raw material that they send to the right places so that it can be used to produce other objects [such as park benches]," explains Ms. Boissonneault.   This is the first year that the entrepreneur has set up this project specifically for Halloween and she was surprised by the interest aroused by her initiative.   Daycare centers and schools in Estrie, as well as businesses from as far as Rouyn-Noranda, contacted her.   "We had 4 or 5 collection points initially in the Sherbrooke area, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and on the North Shore of Montreal. We were happy, but the interest is so great that we are now at a [50] pickup locations throughout Quebec, "rejoices Ms. Boissonneault.  

All but cardboard

  The packaging of candies, chocolate, gums and even small bags of potato chips can be collected.   Only small cardboard boxes, such as the Smarties, are not allowed since they are already recycled in the municipal recycling system.   ► For a list of collection points, visit effetph.com. Pickup will be until November 21st.

ESCANABA, Mich. (WJMN)- Jessica Garber’s environmental club at Escanaba High School is new this year and with it being the Halloween season, the club is incorporating that into saving the planet.   “It was started by Rubicon Global,” said Garber. “They’re out of Atlanta, Georgia and basically they’re sending boxes that come from Terra Cycle to 450 schools across the nation in 49 states and kids can recycle their candy wrappers there.”   “There’s like millions of wrappers all over the world now an we need to like recycle it instead of just throwing it away because it builds up quickly,” said sophomore, Gabrielle Chouinard.   The group is also getting students at Lemmer Elementary involved by asking them to collect wrappers.   “So when they inherit this world too, they would know better about how to keep the environment safe from all of this pollution,” said junior, Alan Koszka.   People would like to recycle their candy wrappers can drop them off at Escanaba High School. The club is also asking for plastic bags for their next project. That collection is from November 15th to April 15th.   As the new organization continues to grow, they’ve also implemented recycling bins for bottles in the school.   “I always wanted to do something for the environment because there is climate change and stuff is changing so we need to do something about this and start recycling,” said Chouinard.

Rubicon Global announced that the company has launched a Halloween campaign designed to help elementary and middle-school teachers across the United States educate their students on the importance of recycling and keeping candy wrappers out of landfills. The campaign is in keeping with the company’s B Corp mission to end waste.   According to industry data, $2.6 billion will be spent on candy in 2019⁽¹⁾, and Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy⁽²⁾ for Halloween.   Throughout the month of October, Rubicon will be running its first ever “Trick or Trash” campaign, offering teachers in elementary and middle schools across the United States a recycling and circular economy lesson plan, as well as a Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box through TerraCycle for students to discard their Halloween candy wrappers within. All of these items are being provided free of charge⁽³⁾.   “We believe this campaign can be a catalyst for the next generation to recycle more and reduce waste in our world,” said Nate Morris, Founder and CEO of Rubicon. “Our hope is this program is a great addition to everyone’s Halloween festivities while providing teachers with a curriculum with which to educate students on how to develop positive recycling habits.”   “TerraCycle’s mission has always been to ‘Eliminate the Idea of Waste’ and we’ve proven that solutions do exist for items that may seem difficult to recycle,” said Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “Rubicon not only shares our commitment but has taken it to the next level by spearheading the ‘Trick or Trash’ Halloween campaign to reduce the impact of candy and snack wrappers on the environment and help pave the way for a greener future.”   Rubicon Global is a technology company that powers a digital marketplace, provides a suite of SaaS products for waste, recycling, and smart city solutions, and collects and analyzes data for businesses and governments worldwide. Using technology to help turn businesses into more sustainable enterprises and neighborhoods into greener and smarter places to live and work, Rubicon’s mission is to end waste in all of its forms by helping its partners find economic value in their waste streams and confidently execute on their sustainability goals. The company is a Certified B Corporation, affirming that Rubicon meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance and aligns its business with purpose and social good. Through its technology, Rubicon is transforming the entire category of waste and recycling.   Teachers can download the lesson plan immediately upon sign-up. After completing the sign-up, a Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box will be shipped to their school. Once delivered, teachers can simply set up the box in their classroom, cafeteria, or hallway, and encourage the students to deposit all of their candy wrappers in the box. Once the box is full, teachers can simply close the box, attached the prepaid shipping label, and ship it off free of charge.

Rubicon Global announced that the company has launched a Halloween campaign designed to help elementary and middle-school teachers across the United States educate their students on the importance of recycling and keeping candy wrappers out of landfills. The campaign is in keeping with the company’s B Corp mission to end waste.   According to industry data, $2.6 billion will be spent on candy in 2019⁽¹⁾, and Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy⁽²⁾ for Halloween. Throughout the month of October, Rubicon will be running its first ever “Trick or Trash” campaign, offering teachers in elementary and middle schools across the United States a recycling and circular economy lesson plan, as well as a Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box through TerraCycle for students to discard their Halloween candy wrappers within. All of these items are being provided free of charge⁽³⁾.   “We believe this campaign can be a catalyst for the next generation to recycle more and reduce waste in our world,” said Nate Morris, Founder and CEO of Rubicon. “Our hope is this program is a great addition to everyone’s Halloween festivities while providing teachers with a curriculum with which to educate students on how to develop positive recycling habits.”   “TerraCycle’s mission has always been to ‘Eliminate the Idea of Waste’ and we’ve proven that solutions do exist for items that may seem difficult to recycle,” said Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “Rubicon not only shares our commitment but has taken it to the next level by spearheading the ‘Trick or Trash’ Halloween campaign to reduce the impact of candy and snack wrappers on the environment and help pave the way for a greener future.”   Rubicon Global is a technology company that powers a digital marketplace, provides a suite of SaaS products for waste, recycling, and smart city solutions, and collects and analyzes data for businesses and governments worldwide. Using technology to help turn businesses into more sustainable enterprises and neighborhoods into greener and smarter places to live and work, Rubicon’s mission is to end waste in all of its forms by helping its partners find economic value in their waste streams and confidently execute on their sustainability goals. The company is a Certified B Corporation, affirming that Rubicon meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance and aligns its business with purpose and social good. Through its technology, Rubicon is transforming the entire category of waste and recycling.   Teachers can download the lesson plan immediately upon sign-up. After completing the sign-up, a Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box will be shipped to their school. Once delivered, teachers can simply set up the box in their classroom, cafeteria, or hallway, and encourage the students to deposit all of their candy wrappers in the box. Once the box is full, teachers can simply close the box, attached the prepaid shipping label, and ship it off free of charge.

NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — As the little ghosts and goblins bring home a huge haul for Halloween, Dr. Amberlee Taylor of North Royalton Pediatric Dentistry is making sure those treats don't come back to haunt them.   "Chocolate is going to be the best candy, because when you place it in your mouth, it's going to melt away," Dr. Taylor explains. "Anything that's going to stick in your teeth and stay there for a long period of time is pretty much what you do want to avoid."   That makes candies like Blow Pops a double whammy.  The long-lasting sugar of hard candy, plus the chewy center.   Then there's Sour Patch Candy, a triple-threat of enamel-eating sour acids and sugar plus sticky.   And it matters not just which candy kids eat, but when. The best time is right after mealtime.   "When we eat, our saliva builds up and now you're going to go ahead and wash away the chocolate," says Dr. Taylor.   So now that it's practically raining candy in your house, what should you do with all that sugar?   Cleveland Clinic Child Psychologist Dr. Kate Eshleman says to set expectations and adds that it's helpful to give them warnings.   To give you some idea of how much kids can eat, pediatricians recommend a daily limit of 25 grams of sugar for children. That's four mini-Twizzlers, three Twix minis, or two fun-sized Snickers.   Did you know that you can recycle candy wrappers? Well, sort of. At Ganley Subaru in Wickliffe, you'll find a drop-off box to collect candy wrappers that are shipped to a company called TerraCycle, which specializes in recycling hard-to-recycle material.   Sweet ways to make Halloween candy a little less scary for us all.  

Hundreds and hundreds of candy and candy wrappers will have a second life, thanks to the initiative of a Sherbrookoise. In about forty collection points, people are invited to drop the packaging of chocolates, sweets and candies in boxes provided for this purpose. Mother of two children who no longer spend Halloween, Hélène Boissonneault is well placed to know that this popular festival has an important ecological footprint. Her research led her to TerraCycle, an American company that gives life back to this waste, which is not recyclable. The co-founder of Effect Ph, also a speaker, will send all the content collected to the company by mail. The packaging could, at the end of the process, turn into park benches and watering cans, Ms. Boissonneault notes. The one who is also a speaker follows several zero waste groups. People want to reduce their footprint on Halloween is present, she says, adding that his initiative has quickly attracted interest. "In Estrie, we have more than 40 points of fall. The list continued to rise yesterday (Thursday) morning. We wanted to test whether it was going to work. The test works! Commented the one who co-founded the company with Pascal Fredette. The company's mission is "to inspire people to gradually adopt a minimalist lifestyle, to move towards zero waste and benefit from decluttering."   Among participating schools, the Deux-Rives school in Sherbrooke, in the Brompton area, decided to make a collection point. Teacher Nancy Harrison heard about the social media initiative and decided to involve her school; she, too, is well placed to see the mountains of paper that can accumulate the day after Halloween. The initiative also raises students' awareness, notes the school's vice-principal, Daniel Bédard. The school is one of the participating schools in a pilot composting project. A tray will be installed in each class. In particular, snacks and dinner leftovers will be able to avoid landfill. "We will have to do education, explain what goes in the compost bin and what is wrong," says Bédard. "The students will do most of the management. They are the ones who will collect the compost. "   The project will first be launched in the Academy Pavilion of the Sacred Heart, where are the major from fourth to sixth grade. "It will start in the Academy pavilion at first. We'll see how we can export it to the other pavilion. "   A new committee has been created to work on this project and to educate children about environmental values. This committee is composed of Mr. Bédard, parents and teachers. "It is rare for committees to be composed of parents and teachers other than the governing board and the OPP (parent participation organization). "   The school has approximately 536 students, including some 237 students at the Académie Sacré-Cœur Pavilion.