MASSENA – Nightengale Elementary School students have earned $800 by collecting and recycling the drink pouches they use at home and in the lunchroom.

Nightengale Elementary students have just reached the second level of TerraCycle and Capri Sun’s Drink Pouch Brigade contest by collecting more than 18,000 drink pouches, according to a press release from contest promoters.

The students have earned more than $800 for their school by collecting the drink pouches.

The Drink Pouch Brigade is a recycling program that rewards people for collecting and sending their waste to TerraCycle to be recycled or upcycled.

The Milestone Program began in September 2013 when Capri Sun added prizes for collecting certain amounts.

Participants can win prizes made from recycled drink pouches, such as park benches, recycling bins, a playground, and other fun rewards.

"The Milestone Program is meant to inspire individuals and organizations to collect more waste while receiving prizes for their achievements," said Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle. "It is rewarding to see the students and administration get so involved in making this work. It’s an incredible achievement to have kept so many pouches out of the waste stream."

To learn more about the program or to sign up, visit www.terracycle.com. The program is free to any interested organization or individual, and all shipping costs are paid. In addition, for each piece of waste received, participants earn money for a charity of their choice.