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The nice people over at TerraCycle have asked me to write about one of their newest projects, and after looking at it, I can say it is another great idea from a truly cool company, so here we go..

As you may recall from an earlier article of mine , TerraCycle produces a whole line of unique products made from trash. The company has won many awards for it's business model and innovative environmental thinking. The company has teamed with many large corporations to "upcycle" used product packaging into new uses. The process of gathering the materials for TerraCycle's products includes formation of "Brigades" of schools and community groups which are paid for the used items they collect. This win-win approach to manufacturing helps the planet be a greener place, helps schools, non-profits and charities raise money, and helps TerraCycle to introduce even more great products.

TerraCycle is now teaming with  SHARPIE®, PAPER MATE® & EXPO® Brands for it's first-ever upcycling program for used writing instruments. A recent press release from TerraCycle talks about the new program:

“Keeping one pen or marker out of a landfill may seem like a small contribution, but multiply that by the estimated $5 billion* of writing instruments sold in the U.S. each year and it is a big opportunity to reduce waste to landfills,” said Ben Gadbois, President of Markers, Highlighters, Art and Office Essentials for Newell Rubbermaid Office Products, maker of Sharpie, EXPO and Paper Mate products. “As the world’s leading producer of writing instruments, it’s not only our responsibility but our moral obligation to do our part to help the environment. TerraCycle offers us an innovative way to repurpose writing instruments after their useful life has expired.”  * As reported by WIMA, Writing Instruments Manufacturers Association, 2007.

TerraCycle is now in the process of research and development for new products that can be made from the old pens and markers.

If you'd like to participate in forming a Writing Instruments collection Brigade for your school, charity or nonprofit organization, you may contact TerraCycle here: www.terracycle.net More information can also be found here www.sharpie.com , here , and here .

The people at TerraCycle are dedicated to upcycling. This process can transform garbage into usable goods for sale and benefit the groups of people who collect it. Imagine making a whole new product from garbage, packaging it in garbage, and selling it back to the consumers who originally created the garbage.. Brilliant!. The landfill is now out of the loop.

TerraCycle brings a whole new perspective of planet earth to those who care.