Bright Ideas

Natural Start

Finally, when markers run dry, they don't have to be sent to the landfill. Crayola's new ColorCycle program offers schools a way to recycle spent markers, so they get a second life as a clean-burning fuel. According to Crayola, "one box of markers creates enough energy to cook an egg, make toast and brew one pot of coffee."

Through the ColorCycle program, schools collect markers and then box them up for shipment to the ColorCycle recycling facility. Crayola provides the shipping label so there's no cost to schools. They're melted down at the recycling facility and turned into a fuel that Crayola says "can be used to heat a home, run a car, or cook food."

The program is only available to K-12 schools now, but the company says it plans to expand the program to early childhood centers, individuals, and others soon. In the meantime, if you are not at a K-12 school or if you don't have children at one, you can drop your markers off at any participating school and they can be recycled with the school's markers.

To learn more, check out Crayola's video about the program below, and visit the Crayola ColorCycle site.

recycling