Terracycle is a company that collects and "upcycles" different kinds of waste packaging and turns that waste into new consumer products.
Repurposed products include pencil cases made from Oreo cookie wrappers, kites from Skittles packages, backpacks from Capri Sun drinks pouches and natural plant fertilizer made from worm excrement that is packaged in empty soda bottles. These upcycled products are available for sale in several large national chain stores including Home Depot, Walmart and Wholefoods Markets.
So far, Terracycle has collected over 1.5 billion tons of waste. In Lays potato chip packets alone, over two million tons of waste has been diverted from landfills.
Schools and companies are invited to join a Terracycle collection brigade and can decide which items to collect based on usage at their campus or office. For each item collected, Terracycle donates $0.02 cents to a charity of choice. Woodward Academy has chosen to donate to Cochran Mill, an environmental nature center in Palmetto, Georgia where Woodward students often go on field trips.
The Academy is currently collecting glue sticks, scotch tape dispensers, chip bags and candy wrappers. Collection bins and informational posters can be found at the following locations:
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Primary School – Main Foyer and Art Gallery
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Lower School – Courtyard Entrance and outside the Library
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Middle and Upper School – Middle School Faculty Lunch Lounge
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Woodward North – Main Building