
- Remove the cap.
- Squeeze as much of the toothpaste out of the tube as possible.
- Carefully cut the neck of the tube and cut a slit along the side.
- Use warm water and soap to rinse out the rest of the toothpaste.
Are toothpaste tubes recyclable?
Although many toothpaste tubes are made from the readily recyclable materials, like plastic #4 and aluminum, that doesn’t mean your local curbside recycling program can accept the tubes. Call your recycling center first before tossing the tubes in your recycling bin. If your recycling program doesn’t accept them, Terracycle will.
What can I do with my empty toothpaste tubes?
You can collect your empty toothpaste tubes (as well as old toothbrushes and floss containers) and ship them for free to TerraCycle to be recycled into new products. Large enough shipments can raise money for your chosen school or charity.
How do I dispose of dental floss containers?
Your local curbside recycling program likely accepts them. Your local recycling center many not accept dental floss containers, which are often made from trickier #5 plastic. If your recycling center doesn’t accept #5 plastic, send your empty floss containers to Preserve’s Gimme 5 program.
Can you recycle mouthwash containers?
You shouldn’t have a problem recycling mouthwash containers. Most are made from easy-to-recycle #1 plastic. Your local curbside recycling program likely accepts them. Your local recycling center many not accept dental floss containers, which are often made from trickier #5 plastic.

What do you do with old toothpaste tubes?
One simple way of recycling toothpaste tubes is to use them for frosting cupcakes and cookies. Simply snip the sealed bottom off and wash it really well. Then, you can fill the tube with your own homemade icing.
Does toothpaste go in the garbage?
As the vast majority of toothpaste tubes are still multi-material items, they belong in the garbage.
Are Crest toothpaste tubes recyclable?
Procter & Gamble Oral Care will now use recyclable toothpaste tubes for its Crest, Oral-B and Blend-a-med oral care line. This is party of the “P&G Ambition 2030” commitments of achieving 100% recyclable or reusable packaging.
Are all Colgate tubes recyclable?
Starting in March, these new tubes will roll out across four of Colgate's most popular lines. The company expects every single tube in its portfolio to be recyclable in the United States in 2023, and globally in 2025.
Are toothpaste tubes bad for the environment?
Here are the facts: 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are discarded worldwide each year, and those tubes end up in landfills or worse, in our precious oceans. 10 million tons of plastic are dumped in our oceans annually - that's equal to more than a garbage truckload every min.
What happens to toothpaste tubes?
After cleaning, shredded tubes are dried and enter a pelletizing step, where recycled materials are converted into pellets for use in new products. Similar shredding and pelletizing processes are used for salvaging mouthwash containers and dental floss packaging for recycling, Simpson said.
Can I recycle Oral-B toothpaste tubes?
The following types of oral care products and packaging are accepted in the programme: Any brand of toothpaste tubes and caps. Any brand of plastic toothbrush outer packaging.
How do you dispose of toothbrush heads?
You can recycle your Oral-B toothbrush heads through the Colgate TerraCycle scheme. Just drop them off at the registered location (which you can find on the TerraCycle website).
Can you recycle dental floss containers?
Mouthwash and Dental Floss Containers You shouldn't have a problem recycling mouthwash containers. Most are made from easy-to-recycle #1 plastic. Your local curbside recycling program likely accepts them. Your local recycling center many not accept dental floss containers, which are often made from trickier #5 plastic.
Are toothpaste tubes biodegradable?
Every. single. year, 1 billion plastic toothpaste tubes end up in landfills where they take forever to biodegrade.
How long does it take for a toothpaste tube to decompose?
500 yearsToothpaste is a crucial part of our oral hygiene. On average, the United States throws away more than 400 MILLION empty toothpaste tubes, which can take over 500 years to decompose in landfills.
How do you recycle aluminum toothpaste tubes?
Getting your tube ready for recycling is easy: simply squeeze out as much of the toothpaste from the tube as you can, replace the cap, and place the tube in your recycling bin.
What are toothbrushes made of?
Your handy toothbrush is a tad tricky to recycle because it’s made of three different materials: The handle’s plastic. The bristles are made out of nylon. And a small metal staple holds the bristles to the brush. These components have to be taken apart and then recycled separately, according to Earth911.
Why won't recycling centers accept razor blades?
Recycling centers won’t accept them because of safety concerns with the blade, as well as bio-contamination fears. Even worse, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that we toss 2 billion disposable razors each year.
Can you recycle deodorant?
Deodorant tubes are made out of plastic, so they should be easy to recycle, right? Not quite. If you can even find the recycling numbers on your deodorant tube (good luck), the dial on the bottom of the tube is often made from a different type of plastic than the tube itself, which makes recycling them tricky.
Does the lid of a deodorant bottle have a recycling number?
Plus, the lid rarely has a recycling number on it. You’ll likely need to contact the company that makes the deodorant to find out what types of plastics make up the packaging. Then, you’ll have to find out if your local recycling program will accept the tubes.
Does Tom's take toothpaste tubes back?
Some companies, like Tom’s of Maine, will take back their own toothpaste tubes for recycling. Give your toothpaste company’s customer service department a call to find out.
Does Terracycle accept deodorant?
Terracycle accepts all brands of deodorant tubes. And, you don’t even have to worry about getting the remnants of de odorant out of the tube. The recycling process works by shredding the tubes, which exposes any product residue.
Can you recycle razors?
You could swap out your disposables for longer-lasting razors, or buy Preserve disposable razors. The company accepts its branded razors for recycling. Preserve upcycles the plastic #5 handles of the used razors into new shavers.
Can toothpaste tubes be recycled?
Curbside recycling programs don’t accept them for recycling.
Does Origins have a recycling bin?
Origins, the skincare store, has a recycling collection bin for toothpaste tubes and other small skincare bottles that one can't put in their household recycle bin. This includes Origins boutiques at Macy*s. They will even give you a free gift for recycling!
Can you recycle Colgate?
Even better, it's not just for recycling Colgate products, they will accept any brand.
Can you drop off toothpaste tubes?
Before you drop off your toothpaste tubes we would advise cutting them open, cleaning them out thoroughly and letting them dry to save the collectors a job. 👍
Is it hard to recycle toothpaste tubes?
Toothbrush. Let's get straight to it - recycling toothpaste tubes is hard. Although they are mainly made from plastic, there are a number of other materials mixed in as well.
Is Reco toothpaste a waste?
Here at Reco we have developed toothtabs, a zero waste and solid form of toothpaste. Think of them as toothpaste with all of the water squeezed out.
Does Terracycle recycle toothpaste?
TerraCycle have teamed up with Colgate to offer the " Oral Care Recycling Programme" where they will recycle all sorts of products related to oral care such as, toothpaste tubes, floss and toothbrushes. Have a look below:
How often should I dispose of toothpaste tubes?
When I say frequently, I mean every one and a half month to two months or so. This would have never been a problem if knew how to dispose of them (in this case, recycle) properly. However, as I did not know before, I only threw them in the rubbish bin. This is also the case for the emptied toothpaste tubes and other oral care products I use.
Why do toothbrushes go into landfills?
Both toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes are made up of different kinds of materials combined together. As a result, this can lead to them going into landfills.
How long should I brush my teeth before going to the shower?
Before hitting the showers, I make sure to brush my teeth the right way – about 2 minutes or a bit more. Being sort of a neat freak, I frequently change my toothbrush.
Does Terracycle have zero waste?
As our customers and readers alike already know, we offer a wide variety of TerraCycle “Zero-Waste” recycling boxes that can fit your business’s needs. Recently, Waster has added more products available which include oral or dental care products. We will discuss below the easy process you need to do.
Can you recycle toothpaste?
Ideally, you just have to make sure that there are no more leftover toothpaste or dental floss before shipping of the box. So, make sure to check that thoroughly if you want them to be recycled.
Can you ship a Terracycle box?
After you filled it up with the appropriate items, you can then ship the box to TerraCycle. Use the pre-paid shipping label affixed to the TerraCycle box. Rest assured that your sent items are recycled properly and safely.
Can Terracycle go into landfill?
As a result, this can lead to them going into landfills. But if you research well enough, you will find that many of these “unrecyclable” materials do, in fact, have alternatives. TerraCycle usually is the first one to come in mind when looking for alternate options.