Why recycle your toothbrush?
Recycling your old toothbrush is the best option for disposing of it in an environmentally-friendly way. Throwing it away in the trash will only add to the ever-growing pile of plastic sitting in landfills, which is detrimental to the environment. By recycling your toothbrush, you can contribute to reducing your environmental impact overall.
Recycling your toothbrush is a bit more complicated than recycling other materials, as it can’t be disposed of in the same way. However, it only takes a little extra effort to recycle it and make a difference. There are specialist recycling options available in many countries and the good news is many of these programs are free. This will ensure that the materials in your toothbrush are reused and not sent to a landfill.
Recycling your toothbrush is not only beneficial for the environment, but it can ensure that the materials in your toothbrush are reused and not sent to a landfill. It can also save resources like fossil fuels and raw materials.
And once you’ve discovered how to recycle your toothbrush, next why not consider buying toothbrushes made from recycled materials or toothbrushes made from biodegradable or renewable materials?
Want to know how to recycle your electronic toothbrush – click here.
What are toothbrushes made of?
Toothbrushes are made primarily of plastic, which is used for both the handle and the bristles. The most common plastics used for handles and toothbrush heads are polyethylene (plastic number 1) and polypropylene (plastic number 5), while nylon (plastic number 7) is the most popular material used for bristles. In the past, toothbrush handles were made of wood or bone, while the bristles were made of natural boar hair. In 1938, the first toothbrush with nylon bristles was introduced, and since then, plastic has been the go-to material for modern toothbrushes. More recently, some toothbrush companies have started experimenting with plant-based plastics, which are more sustainable and renewable than traditional plastic, or bamboo, and other natural materials. You can find some great examples of these below.
Are toothbrushes recyclable?
Yes, toothbrushes are recyclable, but it requires a special recycling process. Most toothbrushes are made of multiple types of plastic bonded together with nylon bristles, all of which must be separated in order to be successfully reused. To make the best choice for the environment, it’s important to recycle your toothbrushes instead of throwing them in the trash. Throwing your toothbrush into the general trash can means it will be sent to a landfill where it can take hundreds of years to break down.
Find a local drop-off location through TerraCycle’s free toothbrush recycling program, or contact your local dentist or recycling center to see if they accept them.
How to dispose of your toothbrush
If your local recycling center accepts specialist recycling items like toothbrushes that’s great news. Otherwise, you will want to look into more specialized programs. There are several options,
- you can join TerraCycle online and use their post-in service or
- Or you can simply use their website to find a local drop-off location near you.
- Oral B have a recycling program available in the USA, find it here.
- Try Philips in the United Kingdom for its free mail-in recycling program in partnership with TerraCycle.
How to recycle a toothbrush through the TerraCycle mail-in program
If you join the program you will simply:
- Log in to TerraCycle online
- Find the Oral Care Free Recycling Program and join it
- Once you have joined it you start collecting your toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes for a few months. As well as toothbrushes you can also collect floss containers and toothpaste tubes. Check their website for what is accepted.
- Next, you jump back online and print out a free shipping label.
- Box up your collection, attach the label to the box, and drop it off at your local post office.
- Your toothbrushes will be broken down into their plastic parts, shredded, and melted into a hard plastic that can be used to make new products.
- Plus you can even earn points for each shipment of recyclables, which can be redeemed for charitable gifts and donations.
Find a collection point for your old toothbrush
If you prefer to take your collection to a specialist drop-off location there are plenty available. Just log into TerraCycle in your local country, find the Oral Care Free Recycling Program, and find a local public drop-off point. There are hundreds of collection points across the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries. Simply go to the TerraCycle.com website and choose your country.
Can you put old toothbrushes in the recycling bin?
If you don’t have access to a specialist recycling service then you will need to place your toothbrush into the general waste and send it off to the landfill. A toothbrush doesn’t belong in your curbside recycling bin. It cannot be processed by the local recycling centers which are focused on plastic, paper, glass and metal food, and other packaging.
Try switching to a more sustainable toothbrush
Switching to a more sustainable toothbrush is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Here are some steps to help you make the switch:
- Choose a bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo is a great eco-friendly option because it grows quickly and is biodegradable when used in its raw form. Plus, you can put the bamboo sticks to use once you remove the bristles.
- Consider plant-based alternatives. If you don’t like the idea of a wooden feel in your mouth, choose a toothbrush made from plant-based materials that feel like plastic.
- Try a toothbrush with replaceable heads. Eco-Dent’s Terradent line of toothbrushes has replaceable heads, so once the bristles wear out you can just snap on a new head, minimizing waste.
Toothbrush made with 100% recycled plastic number 5 (polypropylene) and nylon bristles. Made in the USA.
Preserve is a manufacturer of eco-friendly home goods with a focus on sustainable consumer goods. They have been working on more sustainable options since 1996 and have multiple certifications.
Toothbrush with replaceable head
REduce your waste with this great toothbrush that has a replaceable head. The new head clicks in and stays in while you clean your teeth. When it’s time for a replacement simply buy a new head and replace it instead of the entire toothbrush.
- Try a toothbrush with replaceable heads. Eco-Dent’s Terradent line of toothbrushes has replaceable heads, so once the bristles wear out you can just snap on a new head, minimizing waste.
- Look for toothbrushes made from recycled plastic. Preserve makes recycled toothbrushes in many different colors using recycled polypropylene or plastic number 5.
- Take care of your toothbrush and keep it clean and dry.
By making these small changes, you can help reduce your environmental impact and keep your teeth healthy at the same time!
Another great way to reduce your waste is to seek out products with less packaging or recyclable packaging. Here are some great options.
The Jordan Green Clean Toothbrush is made of 90% recycled materials. It has a handle made using 100% recycled plastic from e.g. yogurt, margarine, and food tubs and a bristle, the remaining 10 % made from 100 % bio-based nylon. Plus it comes in eco-friendly packaging using recycled paper fibers.
How to recycle electronic toothbrushes
Firstly, if your electronic toothbrush has stopped working check if it can be repaired or maybe just needs a replacement battery. I was about to throw ours out a few years back and buy a new one but we were able to buy a replacement battery through eBay and it’s been working ever since. We managed to get another 4 years out of it so far.
If it can’t be repaired or the battery replaced then it’s best to recycle it. Electric toothbrushes require even more specialist recycling than regular toothbrushes because they contain rechargeable batteries and electronic components that in many locations, are categorized as e-waste.
They definitely cannot go in your regular trash bin because it’s not a good idea to send rechargeable batteries to a landfill. There is a risk that the batteries could leach toxic materials into the environment when left to decompose in a landfill, so best to avoid that. Electronic toothbrushes are also not accepted in most curbside recycling bins either. The facilities are not set up to recycle this sort of item, so unless you have a specific e-waste curbside collection keep them out of your curbside recycling bin.
So what can you do with your old electronic toothbrushes? Check with your local e-waste recycler or collection point to see if they accept them or head to TerraCycle as they have a program to collect these also. Batteries can be recycled and many of the components used in new products.
You can recycle your brush heads through programs like…. and even the TerraCycle program.
Other Ways to reuse a toothbrush
Old toothbrushes are great for cleaning many things because they are small and can be used to access narrow surfaces or hard-to-reach places. The small bristles are useful for scrubbing items gently or removing dust. Here are some suggestions:
- With an old used toothbrush, a clean cloth, and some mild soap or detergent you can gently scrub the surface of toys, car parts, shoes, the kitchen counter, bathroom tiles, or many other items with an old toothbrush.
- Get a used toothbrush and rinse it with warm water. Gently scrub your jewelry with the toothbrush, using the bristles to remove dust and debris from hard-to-reach places. Rinse the toothbrush off with warm water and use a soft cloth to buff the jewelry dry. By following these simple steps, you can easily clean your jewelry with a used toothbrush and keep it looking beautiful and sparkly!
- Using an old toothbrush and a bowl of warm, soapy water. Dip the toothbrush into the soapy water and then use the bristles to scrub dirt and dust off the blinds and windows. Focus on the corners and crevices where dirt may be stuck. Rinse the toothbrush in soapy water as it gets dirty and repeat the process until all of the dirt is gone. When finished, use a dry cloth to wipe away any remaining water or soap residue.
- Cleaning a computer or laptop hardware with a toothbrush is an easy way to reuse it. To do so, first remove the dust from the tiny circuits using the bristles of the toothbrush. Then take the toothbrush and slide it across the windows or blinds to get rid of the dust.
- Cleaning a computer or laptop hardware with a toothbrush is an easy way to reuse it. To do so, first remove the dust from the tiny circuits using the bristles of the toothbrush. Then take the toothbrush and slide it across the windows or blinds to get rid of the dust.
- Clean your hairbrush. Start by removing any hair from the brush using your fingers or a pair of tweezers. Gently move the toothbrush bristles over the hairbrush in a circular motion, working from the bottom of the bristles up to the top. To remove any remaining dirt or hair from the brush, dip the toothbrush bristles in a cup of warm, soapy water and swirl the toothbrush bristles over the hairbrush until all of the dirt and debris is removed. Rinse the brush off with clean water and let it air dry. Finally, use the toothbrush to remove any hairs that may be stuck in the bristles of the hairbrush.
- Apply hair dye using an old toothbrush. Applying hair dye with a toothbrush is an easy, effective way to get the exact look you’re after. Using a toothbrush to apply hair dye is a great way to get precise, even coverage. It also helps to make sure that the dye is completely distributed throughout each section of hair. With this method, you can make sure that your hair looks its best!
- After that, use the same toothbrush to clean car parts, shoes, kitchen counter, and bathroom tiles. You can also use it to clean the sides of your keys if you have a computer at home. Finally, you can use the same toothbrush to clean your kids’ toys or to remove sticky marks from the walls and doors. With a little bit of effort and creativity, toothbrushes can be reused for a variety of tasks, thus helping to reduce plastic waste and protect the environment.
- Use It for Art and Painting to create unique art pieces. Clean your toothbrush thoroughly, prepare your canvas, and get your paints ready. Dip your toothbrush in the paint of your choice and begin splattering paint onto your canvas. You can control the direction and intensity of the splatter by the way you hold and move the toothbrush.
If you want to learn more about how to recycle other hard-to-recycle items why not check out our blog or take a look at these articles?
