#terracycle

PLEASE RECYCLE & DISPOSE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS PROPERLY

Today I’d like to inform everyone about a new service I just found! Terracycle had partnered with Nordstrom to bring Nordstrom Beautycycle!! Here you can bring bath and beauty product empties to be recycled that wouldn’t typically be able to be recycled at a local recycling center or in your curbside recycling. They detail that they accept empties from hair care, skin care, makeup, and samples. Additionally they list specific products that they will not take. On the website you can find which Nordstrom near you offers this service

This is the setup I’ve used to start collecting old product empties to take to my nearest Nordstrom. I keep this bucket that I had under my sink so I can put my empties in there right away as I finish them. I also collect the empties other people who live with me to put in the bucket as well; the people who live me aren’t zero waste, so it does give them an opportunity to be more responsible of their plastic waste too. When it is full I plan on taking it in to be recycled.I’m still transitioning to a low waste lifestyle and am working on using up all the bottled beauty products that I currently own. There are products that I also haven’t found a good swap for and use a packaged counterpart but with cleaner ingredients. I’m glad that there is a place that I can drop these off as not all brands have take back programs. I’ve heard of places where you can send these types products back, but usually they require a minimum weight to ship in and we all know shipping is expensive. The idea of being able to take my empties in when I’m already making a trip to a mall really appeals to me because it’s like less of a waste of money for me as well as resources to send these out. I hope that y’all will take this opportunity to utilize their service if it is accessible to you! I’ll be providing a link to where you can read more on product specifics and more about the program if you’d like to know more!

I've come to the conclusion that TerraCycle and Loop and Tom Szaky are fancy greenwashing, and Tom Szaky says so many things that show he doesn't actually give a damn.

For example, have a look at this article. Loop is testing reusable packaging in fast food and grocery stores that will be returned, washed, and reused. Referencing Szaky, the article states:

"He recognizes that transporting all that material has an environmental impact, but he says reusing a container dozens of times is still less harmful than repeatedly extracting material from the earth to make new packaging."

That is not a good response. The response should be that the price that companies pay covers mitigating actions for the additional environmental impacts from transportation (which is now twice what it would be with disposable packaging) and cleaning (which was not required for disposable packaging). He should then say what those mitigating actions are.

TerraCycle’s premise is to take items that are normally considered unrecyclable and use science and creativity to find ways to recycle them.

For example, cigarette butts are one of the most common types of litter and single-use plastic waste. Butts were long considered unrecyclable because they contain a unique combination of organic and inorganic materials, but TerraCycle has found a way to recycle them. They also work with local municipalities to create city programs to promote cigarette butt recycling.

My mind was blown by the sheer variety of items that TerraCycle has free recycling programs for: sharps, medical waste, e-waste, batteries, light bulbs, certain brands of contact lenses, pet food bags, juice pouches, snack bags, toys, razors, Eos chapstick cases, Febreeze spray bottles, energy bar wrappers, art supplies, toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes, string, Brita filters, certain brands of makeup...the list goes on and on!

Check out the full list of free programs here. Note: the cigarette waste recycling program is also free.

TerraCycle also allows you to buy a “Zero Waste Box” which can recycle any type of waste stream you choose. You pick the size of box you want, collect waste, and then send it to TerraCycle to be recycled when it’s full (shipping is included in the cost of the box).

For example, do you use a lot of coffee pods at your workplace, but your local recycling company can’t recycle them? You can get a small Zero Waste Box for your counter specifically to recycle those.