Omar Khalid
Plastic pens and pencils are a byproduct of petroleum, a non-renewable resource. With 1.6 billion pens dumped in landfills every year in the US alone, recycling them is crucial to reducing plastic waste. While most recycling facilities do not accept pens and pencils, there are several ways to recycle them, including sending them to companies like TerraCycle, which runs a Writing Instrument Brigade sponsored by Sharpie and Paper Mate, or BIC's Terracycle program. Additionally, you can donate them to schools, libraries, or charities or get creative and turn them into functional objects like pen holders or art pieces.
How to recycle old plastic pens and pencils
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic pens are recyclable | Yes, but not all recycling programs accept them due to the type of plastic used. |
| Recycling plastic pens | Check the packaging of your refill. If it has the recycle symbol or says PE, it can be recycled. |
| Recycling locations | BIC's Terracycle program, Yale University, the University of California-Davis, the University of Pennsylvania, and other universities have pen recycling programs. |
| Other options | Donate to schools, libraries, charities, or local Buy Nothing groups. |
| Eco-friendly alternatives | Opt for traditional-style fountain pens, BIC's range of recycled pens, or eco-friendly pencils made from sustainably-sourced wood and separate erasers. |
| Extending the life of pens and pencils | Store them upside down, keep the caps on, use a lighter or vinegar to loosen ink, wipe the pen on a damp cloth, or blow compressed air inside to clear clogged ink. |
| Repurposing ideas | Eraser stamps, picture frames, sprinkler heads, or garden name tags. |
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What You'll Learn
Recycling plastic pens and pencils through TerraCycle
Recycling plastic pens and pencils is a challenge due to the type of plastic used in their manufacture. The plastic used for cheap pen bodies, for example, is polystyrene, which is not easily recyclable. This means that millions of plastic pens end up in landfills, contributing to the growing problem of plastic waste.
One way to recycle plastic pens and pencils is through TerraCycle, an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. TerraCycle operates in 21 countries and partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers, and cities to recycle products and packages that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfills.
TerraCycle offers a Writing Instrument Brigade program sponsored by pen manufacturers Sharpie and Paper Mate. This program accepts all brands of pens, pen caps, mechanical pencils, markers, and highlighters. To participate, you must first sign up for the brigade on the TerraCycle website. Your shipment must weigh at least five pounds, which is approximately 350 pieces. You can enlist the help of your community or coworkers to reach this quantity. Once collected, the waste is cleaned and melted into hard plastic, which is then remolded to create new recycled products.
Another option is to use TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box. This program allows you to fill a box with any brand of pens, pencils, and markers, and then send it back to TerraCycle for recycling. The box and its liner are also recycled.
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Donating writing instruments to schools and libraries
Before donating, it is important to ensure that the school or library is able to accept the donation and has adequate storage space. It is also worth checking what kind of donations they are looking for, so you can tailor your donation accordingly. Many schools and libraries will be grateful for donations of pens, pencils, and other writing instruments, especially at the start of a new term or year when students are in greater need.
You can find school supply drives in many communities, often taking place in late summer or fall. Local grocery stores, libraries, retailers, community organizations, and churches are good places to find information on how and where to donate. Homeless shelters may also accept donations of writing instruments for any students residing there.
If you are looking to donate a large quantity of writing instruments, organizations such as TerraCycle's Writing Instrument Brigade can help. This program is sponsored by pen manufacturers Sharpie and Paper Mate, so all their products can be returned through the program, including pens, pen caps, highlighters, markers, and mechanical pencils. To participate, you need to sign up on their website, and your shipment must weigh at least five pounds, which is approximately 350 pieces.
Another option is to donate to PenGuyArt.com, run by an artist who uses all sorts of pens in his work and will accept various types of pens, markers, and pencils. You can send your donations by mail or FedEx to the address listed on the website.
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Using eco-friendly alternatives to plastic pens and pencils
While recycling old plastic pens and pencils is a good step towards sustainability, it is also important to consider eco-friendly alternatives to writing instruments made of plastic. This is because plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, causing significant harm to the environment.
One way to make a sustainable choice is to opt for "forever" pens with larger ink packs that last longer, reducing waste. Another innovative option is inkless pens that use an environmentally low-impact metal-based technology to write. These are great eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastic pens.
When it comes to pencils, you can choose those made from sustainably sourced or reclaimed wood and recycled newspaper. This way, you can reduce the use of new wood for wooden pencils. Mechanical pencils are also a good alternative as they can be refilled and reused, but it is important to note that many of them are made from plastic.
If you are looking for specific brands, BIC's Ecolutions pen is an excellent alternative to regular plastic disposable ballpoint pens. Each BIC Ecolutions pen is made from 74% recycled plastic, offering both eco-friendliness and performance.
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Extending the life of your pens and pencils
Store your pens and markers upside down in a pen holder or coffee mug to prevent them from drying out. Always keep the cap on markers or highlighters when not in use to avoid the ink drying out. For ballpoint pens, briefly heat them with a lighter to loosen the ink. For felt-tip pens, dip the tip in vinegar for a few seconds to loosen any dried ink. To maintain gel pens, wipe the pen tip on a damp cloth or rub it on a rubber surface to remove any clumps. For cartridge pens, remove the cartridge and blow compressed air inside to clear any clogged ink.
If your pen runs out of ink, don't throw it away. You can cut the eraser into cute shapes and use them as stamps. Alternatively, you can create a unique pen holder by gluing several pens (with their caps on) onto a plastic cup.
Another way to extend the life of your pens and pencils is to donate them. If they still write, offer them to local schools, art teachers, colleges, or libraries. You can also post them to your local "Buy Nothing" group on Facebook, where people will happily take them off your hands.
Finally, switch to eco-friendly options. Opt for traditional fountain pens or those made from recycled materials. Choose pencils made from sustainably-sourced wood and separate erasers instead of mechanical pencils. By making small changes and caring for your writing instruments, you can help reduce plastic waste and minimize your environmental impact.
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Mailing in your old pens and pencils for recycling
Mail-in Programs
One popular option is TerraCycle, a company that specializes in recycling hard-to-recycle items. They have multiple programs for writing instruments, including the Writing Instrument Brigade, which is sponsored by Sharpie and Paper Mate, allowing you to recycle all kinds of writing instruments, including pens, pen caps, mechanical pencils, markers, and highlighters. To participate, simply sign up on their website and ensure your shipment weighs at least five pounds, which is approximately 350 pieces. You can also check out TerraCycle's partnership with Bic, which offers a free program for recycling Bic-brand writing instruments and packaging.
Mail-in Options for Specific Brands
If you have a lot of one particular brand, you can check if that company offers a take-back or recycling program. For example, Crayola runs a program called ColorCycle, accepting their markers and turning them into liquid fuel.
Donating Old Pens and Pencils
If your writing instruments still work, consider donating them to schools, libraries, or charities. Art teachers and students are often in need of writing instruments and will happily take them off your hands. You can also join local groups on Facebook, such as the Buy Nothing group, to offer your pens and pencils to those who need them.
Getting Creative with Reuse
Before recycling, you can also get creative and reuse your old pens and pencils. From making pen holders by gluing pens onto a plastic cup to covering your car (like Costas Schuler, aka Pen Guy Art), there are numerous ways to upcycle these items.
Recycling Individual Parts
Pens and pencils are made of various materials, some of which are more easily recyclable than others. You can disassemble them and recycle the individual parts. For example, if the clip, tip, or spring are made of steel, aluminum, or tin, they can be recycled separately. Just be sure to separate any small pieces of tungsten carbide, like the metal ball in the tip, from the rest of the metal.
Remember, by recycling or reusing your old pens and pencils, you're helping to reduce plastic waste, minimize the strain on non-renewable resources, and protect the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
While most recycling facilities do not accept pens, there are some that do. You can check Earth911’s online search tool to see if there’s a facility in your area. You can also send them to TerraCycle's Writing Instrument Brigade, which is sponsored by pen manufacturers Sharpie and Paper Mate. Yale University, the University of California-Davis, and the University of Pennsylvania also have pen collection and recycling programs on campus.
Most pencils are made from wood, graphite, metal ferrules, and rubber, all of which are recyclable materials. However, they are not usually accepted by curbside recycling programs. Instead, you can recycle them through a mail-in program like TerraCycle.
You can extend the life of your pens and pencils by storing them upside down in a pen holder or coffee mug to prevent them from drying out. You can also make art, such as a picture frame made from gluing old pencils together, or eraser stamps made from cutting out cute shapes from erasers.
