How to Run a Drink Pouch Brigade

Successful Elementary School Recycling Programs Take Planning

Aug 6, 2009 Genna Cockerham

Elementary schools can run a successful TerraCycle Drink Pouch Brigade by planning for success.

Running a TerraCycle Inc. recycling program may seem like a simple idea, but there are many factors that need to be addressed to ensure that the recycling program runs efficiently. Take the time to plan a successful TerraCycle recycling program to ensure that elementary-level recycling programs earn the most money possible for the school.

Advice for Starting a Drink Pouch Brigade

It’s easy to get excited about starting a TerraCycle Drink Pouch Brigade at an elementary school, print up a bunch of flyers and start collecting hundreds of drink pouches. Program coordinators should resist the temptation to jump in with both feet. A program can become overwhelmed with drink pouches before a system is in place to handle the Capri Sun, Kool-Aid and Honest Kids drink pouches.

Brigade coordinators should choose one grade level or a group of classrooms as a pilot program when establishing a Drink Pouch Brigade. This helps the program establish a timetable for collecting and mailing pouches. Pouches are mailed to a processing center in New Jersey, and additional mailing labels aren’t sent to schools until two labels, each with 100 juice pouches, are received. Starting slower allows program coordinators to keep records of how many drink pouches are being collected each week and how long it takes for a package to be sent to TerraCycle.

Should Fruit Drink Pouches be Washed?

TerraCycle does not require that fruit drink pouches be washed prior to returning them but the company does suggest that washing the drink pouches can prevent unwanted pests. Most elementary schools should create a plan for rinsing the fruit drink pouches. In rare instances, the school will collect enough pouches to send a package of pouches to TerraCycle once a week. In most cases, however, the lunchroom or classrooms will be collecting all brands of fruit drink pouches over time. Unwashed pouches will leak and stink, drawing bugs and fermenting.

Create a System to Recycle Drink Pouches

Instead of allowing sticky drink pouches to pile up, elementary school brigade coordinators need to help create a system. When the pilot program is starting out, consider having each class carry their empty juice pouches back to class. Ask the teacher to incorporate handling the pouches into the after-lunch routine.

In the younger grades, the teacher can cut the pouches open above the straw hole and have a designated student rinse the pouches and set them out to dry. Using a baby bottle drying rack to hold the pouches works well. Encourage the teachers to allow all the children to have a turn handling the pouches so children who buy their lunch at school do not feel left out. In the older grades students can handle both the cutting and the washing. Teachers can assist children in counting the number of pouches each day. A running tally can be kept on the outside of a container holding the used fruit drink pouches.

Storing and Collecting the Used Juice Pouches

Once juice drink pouches are dry, have classes place the pouches in a washable, plastic container with a snap-tight lid. If possible, use a plastic container that will hold the pouches with the open side facing up, then file the bags in the container. Storing the pouches this way will compress the bags as the container fills and will help the pouches fit in the mailing envelope.

The Drink Pouch Brigade coordinator needs to keep a careful watch on the number of bags being collected when the program first begins. The first two packages of 100 pouches should be mailed back as quickly as possible in order to get additional mailing labels and envelopes. It’s important to remember that although TerraCycle provides mailing envelopes, the mailing labels can be applied to boxes. Those who are running large, successful campaigns may want to skip the envelopes entirely and use copy paper boxes which are often in large supply at elementary schools.

When to Stop Collecting Capri Sun Pouches

Although it is hard to explain to students why it is necessary to suspend a recycling program, there are times when it is best to stop collecting the juice pouches. Given the scale of TerraCycle’s campaign – more than 20,000 organizations are participating – there may be times when envelopes and mailing labels become unavailable. TerraCycle is updating their website to include printable mailing labels to address this problem. If the pouches are being washed and dried, not causing a stench and not attracting insects, the pouches may be stored in their plastic containers for a short time. If they are piling up and causing probelms, it is best to stop collecting the fruit drink pouches for a short time.

Brigade coordinators should plan ahead to stop collecting pouches prior to school breaks and long vacations. Depending on the number of pouches being collected on a daily and weekly basis, coordinators may decide to stop when they fill an envelope or box or a few days prior to break. This will ensure that the pouches are on the way back to the company and new labels will be ready after break. It also ensures that no one will return to school to find a stinky, fermenting mess.

Elementary schools can run a successful TerraCycle Drink Pouch Brigade if they plan ahead. In order to earn the most money for the school, the brigade coordinator should start small, encourage teachers to integrate the program in the classroom and focus on sanitation issues. Once the school has an idea about the volume of drink pouches and the time it takes for mailing labels to arrive, the program can be expanded schoolwide.

The copyright of the article How to Run a Drink Pouch Brigade in Green/Simple Living is owned by Genna Cockerham. Permission to republish How to Run a Drink Pouch Brigade in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Earn Money for Schools with Capri Sun	Start an Elementary School Recycling Program	Recycle Drink Pouches with TerraCycle
Run a Successful Drink Pouch Brigade