Bring Out Yer Dead…Pens and Markers, That Is!

Remember that shining day many many years ago when each and every one of us were given the thumbs-up to graduate from pencils onto genuine pens and markers? Oh, what a joyous occasion that was. Permanent ink - whoa, it wouldn't budge, no matter how hard we tried to erase it. Aside from losing, draining or chucking hundreds of pens and dried-up markers, I recall friends having never ending run-ins with the ink cartridges and experiencing pocket explosions that their mothers no doubt were up in arms about.

Considering the countless pens and markers that we've all gamely plowed through and cast aside in our collective life times, I think it's safe to say that every one of us has in some way contributed to the 10 million square mile plastic garbage slurry that is now clogging the northwest part of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists claim that 80% of what is located in that floating mass is derived from land-bound sources that take a winding journey from rivers, storm drains and streams, ultimately getting drawn by strong ocean currents into the swirling liquid vortex known more familiarly as the North Pacific Gyre.

Not surprisingly, one of the more aggressively green companies out there - Terracycle - is tackling this perennial plastic problem by adding a new division to their already outstanding eco-collection task force. In addition to transforming recycled foil drink pouches and snack packaging into pencil cases, school backpacks and kites, they continue to morph other plentiful sources of post-consumer packaging waste - such as yogurt cups, candy bar wrappers, scotch tape brand dispensers, Aveeno facial wash tubes, wine corks, ziptop cereal bags and bathroom tissue wrapping - into practical daily items like flower pots, clip boards and laptop cases.

Now, their latest pet project encourages the public to collect their used writing implements (think Sharpie, Expo and Paper Mate brand highlighters, markers or pens) and submit them for recycling - in fact, they'll donate 2 cents to your favorite 501(c)(3) non-profit for each writing implement  that you send to them. Terracycle even takes it one step further by making the process virtually painless - how does free shipping sound? I've always loved Terracycle's mission, but they continue covering greener territory that no one else dares to tread and they are definitely making our world a better place because of it. Now, bring out yer dead pens and join the cause!