Academies at Gerrard Berman Day School Works with TerraCycle to Significantly Reduce Waste
OAKLAND, N.J., October 28, 2015 – Academies at Gerrard Berman Day School in Oakland is teaching students about sustainability while making a significant impact on the environment. Through use of TerraCycle programs and Zero Waste Boxes, the school helps turn waste, such as snack wrappers and old school supplies, into new plastic products.
Academies at GBDS participates in TerraCycle’s free, national Brigade programs, recycling items such as Entenmann’s Little Bites packaging, Capri Sun drink pouches, Scotch tape dispensers and E-waste. By collecting through these recycling programs, the students earn money for their school. Each shipment of waste sent to TerraCycle earns the school points that can be later redeemed as a cash donation.
“The TerraCycle programs give the students in our school the opportunity to become leaders for environmental awareness and begin with the end in mind by creating a plan, and working towards their goal,” said Robin Kelly, the Science teacher at Academies at GBDS.
After recycling with TerraCycle for five years, Academies at GBDS decided to take their efforts further. A grant from the Bergen County New Jersey Municipal Utility Authority allowed the school to purchase TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes to recycle waste streams such as dining disposables, snack wrappers, office supplies, used glue sticks and old books. The school also started a Green New Year Program to promote schoolwide recycling, initiate worm composting and upcycle trash into art projects.
“Recycling and environmental awareness provides a common goal for our students, teachers, staff and parents to unite behind.” said Sheila Barbach, the Academies coordinator who began the Green New Year program. “We are stronger as a community as a result of the Green New Year.”
Any school, organization or individual looking to recycle with TerraCycle can find more information online at www.TerraCycle.com. For waste not accepted in Brigade programs, Zero Waste Boxes are available for purchase at http://zerowasteboxes.terracycle.com.
About TerraCycle
Founded in 2001, TerraCycle, Inc., is the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, ranging from used chip bags to coffee capsules to cigarette butts. The waste is collected through free, national, brand-funded platforms called “Brigades,” as well as various consumer and government-funded models. The collected waste is reused, upcycled or recycled into a variety of affordable, sustainable consumer products and industrial applications. Each year, across 21 countries, TerraCycle collects and repurposes billions of pieces of waste, donating millions of dollars to schools and charities in the process. TerraCycle is the subject of a new half-hour comedy, ‘Human Resources,’ on Pivot TV. Season two aired Fall 2015. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in our recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.