June 8: TerraCycle

Okay, so I realize there is a reoccurring theme happening here over the past week or so. What can I say? My health and environmental conscience is getting the best of me. Anyway, today I learned about this organization called TerraCycle, which is a leading advocate of "upcycling". By definition, upcycling is taking some form of material, and converting it into something of similar or greater value. On a social level, the term is typically used to refer to the conversion of waste into products that are deemed valuable by society. For example, purses, backpacks, frames, toys, clipboards and a multitude of other products; some of which are pretty cool. So, TerraCycle runs this free, national collection program in which people like you and I can send them items that can be recycled and, in exchange, TerraCycle makes a donation to a charity of your choice. It's actually a fairly ingenious process to both clean up the Earth, as well as help out charities in need. Here's how it works: (1) You register on their website, identifying your "collection team" (which can be school, business, neighborhood, etc.) and charity of choice in the process. (2) You sign up for specific "brigades", which is basically what you will be collecting and sending to TerraCycle to recycle (i.e. candy wrappers, plastic bottles). (3) You go out and collect the so-called "garbage", send it to TerraCycle; they even send you the recycling bags. (4) TerraCycle donates to your charity in increments based on your collection levels. My family has not registered yet, but we're planning on it; we're eyeing the juice pouch and wine cork brigades. And, my children's school is even on the charity list! So, don't just sit there. Get on your computer, go to the TerraCycle website and enroll! I, for one, definitely want a better Earth for my kids as they take this journey through life.