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Schools

Your Trash is Westford Schools' Treasure

Upcycle It! raises over $2000 in first year

Have you heard about Upcycle It!?  Sustainable Westford's innovative program collects non-recyclables such as chip bags, granola bar wrappers, cookie wrappers and more to keep them out of the waste stream.

These items are sent to a company called TerraCycle. TerraCycle donates two cents per item and pays for shipping.  These items are then upcycled into new products such as backpacks, tote bags, and flower pots.

In only one year, $2314.38 has been raised and over 100,000 pieces of trash totaling almost 1300 lbs have been saved from the waste stream.  This money is being donated to the Westford Public Schools via a grant program.

These items are being collected all over town - in classrooms, school cafeterias, the , and the Westford Farmers Market.

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What To Collect

It matters more what was in the bag or wrapper than the type of material it is made out of.  Sponsors, like  Frito-Lay for chips and Starbucks for coffee bags, pay the two cents and shipping costs so they are willing to pay for their industry's waste.  

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Think this way - if you can buy it in the “Chip” aisle of the grocery store, it’s considered a chip bag.    Even though a crouton or frozen food bag may seem like similar material, it does not qualify.

The program accepts wrappers or packaging that once held these items.

  1. Drink Pouches: Any branch of foil drink pouch such as Capri Sun and its straw. Please empty the pouch of all juice and place in a separate bag. No juice boxes.
  2. Elmer's Glue: Glue bottle, stick or pen.
  3. Energy Bar Wrappers:  Any brand of energy, granola, cereal or protein bar wrapper.
  4. Chip Bags: Any brand, any size chip bag.
  5. Cookie Wrapper: Any brand of cookie wrapper.
  6. Candy Wrapper:  Any brand of candy wrapper or bag.
  7. Colgate: Any brand of toothbrush or plastic toothpaste tube.  Place toothbrushes in separate bag.
  8. Coffee Bags: Any brand of foil coffee bag. No cans.
  9. Writing Instruments:  Any kind of pen, mechanical pencil, marker, or highlighter.

Volunteers must sort through all of the items by hand separating them into the categories collected. Familiarizing yourself with the do’s and don’ts really helps.

The overwhelming support from Westford residents, students, parents, Girl Scout troops, teachers, and businesses has been amazing. Let's keep it going Westford! 

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