I Heart TerraCycle {Giveaway}

Ok, so last week I mentioned that for this month only TerraCycle is going to be in every single Wal-Mart. There will be 60 different TerraCycle products on the shelves all made from items collect in their Brigades, but they'll only be there during April.

TerraCycle has tons of different brigades for all types of “garbage”. They collect juice pouches, candy wrappers, chips bags, yogurt cups and wine corks just to name a very few. All you have to do is go to their web site and sign-up for one of the brigades and you’re on your way.

But what’s great is that it doesn’t just benefit TerraCycle (lots of free materials) it also benefits you, or more specifically, your organization. TerraCycle donates 2 cents per item back to the non-profit or school of your choice.



I run a Capri Sun Brigade at my boys’ school. There are just under 400 kids at their school and when we sent our first batch in December we had collected over 1800 pouches and made $37. We just sent another batch in I’m betting it was at least that many, if not a little bit more. It cost us nothing to collect or ship these and we made money on something that otherwise would have just gone into the recycle can.



So what’s the big deal about TerraCycle being in every Wal-Mart? Well, TerraCycle is still a pretty small company and previously you could only find a couple items in some stores. If you wanted to see everything they have you had to go online to shop. Being in a major chain store means a lot more exposure for their products but also for what they’re trying to do.



Now, I’m not going to get into a big debate on the greenness on shopping at Wal-Mart. I know people have very strong feelings about the store. What I am going to do is tell you what I think, ‘cause I know you want to know. ;)

I don’t shop at Wal-Mart, but this whole TerraCycle in Wal-Mart has got me thinking. I’m always hearing from green people that we need to “vote with our dollars”. Well, for me, TerraCycle is super green and I want to support them. The only way to get them into more stores is for them to be a success at Wal-Mart. So to support TerraCycle I have to shop at Wal-Mart. So that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t think boycotting a store at the expense of a good green company is really helpful. Maybe it’s the optimist in me but I’d like to believe that if we show big box stores that we want truly green choices they’ll provide, even if for no other reason than so that they can make money. Isn’t that what voting with our dollars is all about anyways, demanding change?

Alrighty then…. How about we move onto something a little lighter, shall we?



One of Teracycles new product lines is tote bags, wristlets and clutches made out of chips bags. What makes this one so different is that they aren’t using the branded side; they’re using the plain side and printing on it. I’m a big fan of the stars one. Ok I’m a big fan of stars period so I may be biased, but whatever. And guess what, they want to give one of their new star totes to one of you!



For the main entry leave a comment telling me what your favorite green company is.

As always there are additional ways you can enter:

• Go to TerraCycle’s web site and leave a comment here telling me what your favorite product is. (1 entry)
  
• Follow @easyecotogo on Twitter and leave your @name (1 entry)
  
• Follow @TerraCycle on Twitter and leave your @name (1 entry)
  
• Write a blog about the contest or email 3 friends & cc me on the email easyecotogo at gmail.com (3 entries, please leave 3 comments)
  
• Tweet about the contest (Win a cool tote from @terracycle & @easyecotogo http://bit.ly/aoWu6z #giveaway) (1 entry, can be done once a day. Please leave a comment for each tweet)
  
• Follow my blog in Google Friend (1 entry)
  
• Subscribe by email or RSS to Easy Eco To Go (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
  
• Add my button to your blog (leave your site with your comment so I can stop by and say hi!) (2 entries, please leave 2 comments)
  
• Add my blog to your blogroll (1 entry)

Separate comments must be left here for each additional entry!

Also, please include your email with comments or if you’d rather, after you leave your main entry comment, email me at easyecotogo(at)gmail(dot)com so I will have a way of contacting you if you win. You will have 48 hours after I contact you to send me your info or else I will choose another winner.

The contest will run from Monday April 5th, 2010 thru Monday April 12, 2010 at 11:59 pm PST.

And as always the boys will help me pick a winner that will be announced Tuesday the 13th.