This contest is now closed thank you to all that entered.
(Never had such a hard time giving away free stuff before, so far two winners have been chosen and emailed but no one emails me back with shipping address. I’ll try one more time to choose a winner. Thanks)
TerraCycle is offering a free back to school prize pack for one lucky Eco Child’s Play reader.
Would you like to win a TerraCycle Billboard Backpack, a Drink Pouch Lunch Box, a Drink Pouch Pencil Case, and a Chips Ahoy Notebook, for a retail value of around $55?
All you have to do is read through this post and leave a comment with your contact info to be entered in the contest.
TerraCycle is known for upcycling trash into awesome usable items.
“Every year in the United States, the vinyl from over 3 million billboards is sent to landfills. That’s almost 10,000 tons of vinyl, roughly the weight of 2,500 full-grown elephants worth of material that does not biodegrade and will spend an eternity in our landfills. To address this environmental issue, TerraCycle and Yak Pak have partnered to construct durable, affordable bags and accessories by upcycling this difficult to recycle material.”
“Upcycling is the practice of transforming disposable materials into something of greater use and value, giving that material new life. The new TerraCycle-Yak Pak billboard product line represents the ultimate achievement in upcycling. By combining the durability of the billboard vinyl with Yak Pak’s expertise in design and manufacturing, the resulting products are not only great looking, but also nearly indestructible allowing every item to come with a lifetime warranty.”
They also collect used drink pouches, potato chip bags and an assortment of other products and turn them into school and office supplies (among other things).
The non-recyclable drink pouches are made into bags, pencil cases, and homework folders that “are as stylish as they are eco-friendly”. The items are available at Target, Office Max, Walgreens and Shoko stores nationwide. New items are being added for the 2009 back to school season, including backpacks and lunch boxes!
Now you have the chance to own one of these wonderful upcycled backpacks, a drink pouch lunch box, drink pouch pencil case, and Chips Ahoy notebook. All of the upcycled items are perfect for back to school.
The contest starts today, Monday August 3, and will be open for two weeks. A winner will be chosen on Monday August 17 and announced in the comments section of this post and at the top of this post as a notice.

Good luck to all that enter.
[This post was written by Wenona Napolitano.]



{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
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My grandchildren would love to take these items to school – In fact – I would love to take these to work with me! Fun for all kids – all ages! can’t wait to get some!
I think we need to recycle so the earth can return to its original beauty and stay clean for us to live longer n the earth would be around for a long time. I believe in a giving attitude is a good one.
love the idea – so much! but, i do not like that oreo and kool-aid, etc are getting free advertising!
Choosing green school supplies is definitely the way to go. Give the earth a hug and your kids an education.
What a great idea! Teaching the kids the value of their own upcycling efforts. Our VERY needy elementary school and its students will be learning a great deal from Terracycle.
Thanks,
George Polur
Louisville KY
I just purchased the Terracycle lunch tote for my 4th grader and she thinks it it totally cool. We got the Kool-Aid pattern in blue!
Love the site and the concept– not to mention the recyled products.
My grandkids have learned so much about composting– upcycling is just another way for them to help save the planet. Thank you!
I think the idea of recycling and turning these materials into reusable items is wonderful. My only condern is the products that are advertsed on the folder and the lunch box.. as a teacher I am naturally interested in seeing kids eat foods that provide good nutrition for brain and body development.. the amount of sugar in the Kool-Aid drinks concerns me and there are far more nutritionally sound snacks than cookies.. our farmers are producing fresh fruit and vegetables, much of it organic, and the dairy producers are making milk and cheese.. I’m sure they would be willing to sponsor something like this…just a thought.. we need to keep a healthy environment and a healthy mind and body for our future generations.. just some thoughts.. not meant as criticism..
Wow. Those are neat, I’d like to win.
neat-o! i love upcycling, as a college student it is a wonderful way to save money and have fun!
And the winner is Susie. Congrats. Now you son will be able to walk the walk proudly with his recycled/upcycled school gear!
I saw the terracycle pencil pouches and folders at a Kmart this weekend, I fell in love with then. I just looked on the website and wish that they would have had a bookbag a Kmart. I would have preffered to gotten a recycled bag for my kids.
Its a shame i reading this too late to enter but this is a great way to teach the younger generations not to be wasteful and to be resourseful. i will be reading this to my little girl who starts school in a couple of weeks. starting early to teach them to be aware is so important:)
I have contacted the winner but so far no response if I have not received a reposnse by Monday August 24 I will choose a new winner.
I picked a new winner, it’s Katie.
Thanks to all who entered. I hope this time the winner will respond so the prize pack can be mailed out.
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