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"We hope this will bring a unique and educational approach to the environment," said Terracycle media relations coordinator Jennifer Wilkie. "We really want schools to get involved, and this is an inexpensive way to get them excited about birds. It's something that children, parents and teachers are all able to get involved in."
Every school that signs up will receive at least three bird feeders along with a Pennsylvania-certified ornithology curriculum they can use to teach students about birdwatching.
Schools can also take part in one of TerraCycle's online recycling programs for plastic soda bottles, drink pouches and yogurt containers. In exchange for collecting the materials, TerraCycle will send mailable containers, pay for shipping and make a donation to a charity or cause of the school's choice.
According to Wilkie, the program is part of a regional effort in 80 locations throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland. Any school that wants to participate should contact Jennifer Wilkie at 416-661-WORM (9676) or jennifer.wilkie@terracycle.net.
"We need to be eliminating waste and making sure we reuse as opposed to just recycle," Wilkie said. "Recycling breaks down a bottle, then melts and reforms it into another bottle; the process takes up a lot of energy, whereas to reuse is to literally reuse the bottle as is. Drink pouches are not recyclable and go right into garbage, so we're saving them from the garbage."
Using some of the more innovative methods to save the environment, TerraCycle transforms yogurt containers into plant pots and remakes drink pouches into - believe it or not - fashion bags.
"We're aiming to change the whole approach to consumerism," Wilkie said.
bjarvis@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2054.
