Get Crayola to Recycle Their Markers!!!

Stay up to date on the latest posts. Subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Photo credit: via bojudge

Hola dear readers! Baby C is teething so I apologize there wasn’t a {Meatless Monday} post.

Today, while I was on Facebook (another great way to connect with others) I came across a group called

Take Back The Markers: Help Convince Crayola To Recycle Their Markers.

Wonderful! I thought. Just the other day, I finally tossed out 3 old marker boxes (luckily, I was able to recycle the paper box they came in). Their classic colors, scented and a bold pack that had a “painters” tip on it. I was a huge marker junkie way back in the day.  These were seriously Circo 1993!! I’ve read articles in the past about Crayola not recycling their markers so I shamefully tossed them into the trash after allowing the eco tot to reuse them several times as paint brushes.

I let him dip them in water to get the color out the first time but they were so old it really didn’t do much and when we dipped it into paint it was a little messy but it did do the trick.

They finally got their doom’s day though. I would of been much happier tossing them into a recycle bin!

So, back to the facebook group; what a great way to get others involved and to spread the word about this. Crayola should be recycling their old markers. All the plastic that goes to waste and toxic crap going into the environment from the ink could be avoided. So, if you’re like me and want to see Crayola start recycling their markers then join this group. Apparently, Crayola recycles the excess plastic from the tube making process but do not accept old markers to recycle. Why not accept old marker tubes and recycle them too?

BUT

Most importantly write to them via snail mail. That’s right get out the paper and pencil and write a good ole’ fashion letter to them (most effective way).

“Crayola makes 500 million markers every year. Crayola markers are made from polypropylene #5 plastic, not widely accepted at recycling facilities. Let’s urge Crayola to take back their markers and recycle them into new markers.”

Update:

After joining the campaign I found out Terracycle will accept Crayola markers as part of their Writing Instruments Brigade

TerraCycle accepts Crayola markers for upcycle/recycle through its Writing Instruments Brigade! TerraCycle makes affordable, eco-friendly products (to sell) from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. They will pay .02 per marker (and pay for postage to mail the markers to them) and you can designa te the money to a non-profit of your choice.

Please take note that Crayola is not listed on the Terracycle website yet but are proudly accepting their markers. Also, be sure to check out the list of other product waste they accept. You’ll be surprised!!! It’s worth looking into- Makes me wonder how many schools in my town are participating in this? Maybe it’s time to start a brigade! I’m going to at least spread the word to some of the teacher I know; that’s for sure!

Also, Beth Terry @ Fake Plastic Fish started a forum at her site and has included the Take Back the Markers campaign! She is a chock full of knowledge when it comes to environmental activism and getting a company to make the “green” switch. What a great way to help spread the word and get this action started.

Crayola start recycling your markers! Please!!