Alexei Volkov
Plastic toothbrushes are difficult to recycle as they are made from a combination of materials, such as plastic and nylon bristles. However, there are now several options available for recycling plastic toothbrushes. Some companies, such as Philips and Colgate, offer dental care recycling programmes that accept electric toothbrush heads and manual toothbrushes. Local recycling centres may also accept certain types of plastic toothbrushes, and local grocery stores may have their own recycling programmes. Additionally, it is possible to repurpose plastic toothbrushes for household chores or cleaning car parts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclable materials | Plastic, cardboard, and electric toothbrush heads |
| Non-recyclable materials | Nylon bristles, toothpaste tubes, and electric toothbrush handles |
| Recycling programs | Philips Dental Care Recycling Program, TerraCycle, Colgate recycling scheme |
| Ways to reuse toothbrushes | Cleaning car parts, household chores, cleaning computer keys |
| Eco-friendly alternatives | Bamboo toothbrush handles, replaceable toothbrush heads, electric toothbrushes |
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What You'll Learn
Local recycling centres and programmes
Toothbrushes are notoriously difficult to recycle, as they are usually made from several types of plastic, including nylon bristles, which are not typically recyclable. Most local authority-run recycling schemes in the UK cannot process toothbrushes for this reason. However, some local recycling centres do now accept toothbrushes, so it is always worth contacting your local centre to see if they do.
If your local recycling centre does not accept toothbrushes, you can try contacting local grocery stores, as some run their own recycling programmes. You could also try contacting your local dental clinic, as some offer recycling schemes.
If you are looking to recycle electric toothbrush heads and covers, electric flosser nozzles, flossing sticks, interdental brushes, dental floss containers, and manual toothbrushes, you can sign up to the Philips Dental Care Recycling Programme. This programme is free and also accepts all brands of the aforementioned items. Once signed up, you can drop off your dental care waste at a public drop-off location, set up your own, or send it via UPS.
Another option is to send your dental care waste to TerraCycle, a material recovery facility that recycles dental care waste into usable plastic for manufacturers. You can sign up to their programme through their website.
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Reusing plastic toothbrushes
Plastic toothbrushes are difficult to recycle as they are usually made from multiple types of plastic, including nylon bristles, which are not recyclable. Some local recycling centres may accept certain types of plastic toothbrushes, so it is worth contacting your local centre to check. Local grocery stores may also accept used toothbrushes through their own recycling programmes.
However, it is arguably easier to find ways to reuse plastic toothbrushes. One option is to repurpose old toothbrushes for household chores, such as scrubbing floors, cleaning car parts, or polishing jewellery. You could also use a dry or slightly damp toothbrush to clean the sides of your computer keys.
Some companies now offer replaceable toothbrush heads, so you can reuse the same handle for an extended period. Alternatively, you could switch to a bamboo toothbrush, which is biodegradable and can be composted or reused as a garden plant marker once the bristles are removed.
If you are looking to recycle other dental care products, such as electric toothbrush heads and covers, electric flosser nozzles, flossing sticks, interdental brushes, and dental floss containers, you can send them to TerraCycle for recycling. The Philips Dental Care Recycling Programme accepts these items from individuals and organisations across the UK and uses TerraCycle to process the materials into usable raw materials for manufacturers in the plastic industry.
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Electric toothbrush recycling
Electric toothbrushes are challenging to recycle due to the mix of materials used, including multiple types of plastic and nylon bristles. However, several options are available for recycling electric toothbrushes and their components:
Local Recycling Centres
Some local recycling centres or authorities may accept small electrical items, including electric toothbrush handles. Check your local council's website or contact them directly to find out if they collect these items and what specific guidelines to follow.
Manufacturer Recycling Programmes
Certain manufacturers, such as Philips and Colgate, have implemented dental care recycling programmes. For example, the Philips Dental Care Recycling Programme accepts electric toothbrush heads and covers, electric flossing nozzles, and other dental care items from any brand. Colgate has also introduced a similar scheme for oral care products and packaging. These programmes work in collaboration with TerraCycle, a company specialising in recycling hard-to-process waste.
Reuse and Repurpose
Before disposing of an electric toothbrush, consider reusing or repurposing it for other tasks. For instance, old toothbrushes can be handy for cleaning hard-to-reach areas or scrubbing floors.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives
To reduce waste, consider switching to eco-friendly toothbrush alternatives. Bamboo toothbrushes, for example, have a smaller ecological footprint as the handles are biodegradable and can be composted or reused as garden plant markers. Some companies offer replaceable toothbrush heads, reducing the need to discard the entire handle.
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Eco-friendly alternatives
Bamboo toothbrushes are a popular eco-friendly alternative to plastic toothbrushes. They are widely available, with many large retailers and specialist online subscription services offering them. Bamboo is fast-growing and breaks down more easily in compost than plastic. However, bamboo toothbrushes can be considered flimsy by some users, and they may become smelly over time. Some bamboo toothbrush brands include Brush with Bamboo, etee, Bamkiki, Toothcrush, EcoRoots, and ZWS Essentials.
Another alternative material for toothbrush handles is Swiss Beechwood, as used by Georganics. The company cuts down trees for this purpose but replants them, and any excess wood scraps are used to heat their factory. The bristles on these toothbrushes are made of recyclable, BPA-free, non-toxic, gum-safe nylon.
The Humble Co. offers a toothbrush made from cornstarch, which, like bamboo, is biodegradable but less porous and therefore less likely to become "smelly".
For those who prefer electric toothbrushes, A Good Company in Sweden offers bamboo heads that fit conventional electric toothbrushes, including Oral B and Philips Sonicare. Booheads and The Sustainable Tomorrow also offer bamboo electric toothbrush heads.
For a fully biodegradable alternative to nylon bristles, boar bristle toothbrushes are an option, although they may be unpopular among those concerned about animal welfare.
Toothbrushes with replaceable heads can also help to minimize plastic waste. The Colgate Infinity starter pack includes a sturdy aluminium handle and two replaceable plastic heads.
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Recycling toothbrush packaging
Toothbrush packaging, like toothbrushes, is difficult to recycle as it is usually made from a mixture of materials, including plastics and cardboard. These materials are fused together, and councils must judge whether there is a sustainable market that justifies the expense of collecting and separating different products.
However, some companies are now offering recycling schemes for oral care products and their packaging. For example, the Philips Dental Care Recycling Programme accepts all brands of electric toothbrush heads and covers, electric flossing nozzles, flossing sticks, interdental brushes, dental floss containers, and manual toothbrushes. The programme does not accept toothpaste tubes and caps, outer cardboard and plastic packaging for toothbrushes, dental floss, or batteries. To participate, you can sign up through the dedicated page on the TerraCycle website. Once the dental care waste shipments are received at TerraCycle's material recovery facility, they are weighed, scanned, and controlled. The contents are then sent to one of TerraCycle's processing partners, where the plastic is shredded, washed, sorted, dried, compounded, and pelletized into hard-granulated plastic granules. These plastic granules can then be used as a raw material in new applications.
Another option is to contact your local recycling centre to see if they accept the types of plastic packaging you have. Some local grocery stores may also accept used toothbrushes and their packaging through their own recycling programmes.
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Frequently asked questions
The handle and bristles of a plastic toothbrush are made from two different kinds of plastics, each with a different recycling code. This makes it difficult for recycling centers to separate these mixed materials.
You can either disassemble and clean the toothbrush yourself before dropping it off at a recycling center, or you can mail it to a company that will prepare it for you.
Colgate, Tom's of Maine, and Preserve are some companies that accept mailed plastic toothbrushes for recycling.
The toothbrushes are broken down into their plastic parts, shredded, and melted into a hard plastic that is then used to make new products.
It is recommended to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, so you should aim to recycle your plastic toothbrush at least three times a year.
