How to Dispose of Toothbrushes and Toothpaste Tubes If You Insist on It
Depending on your local recycling center, you may not be able to throw your toothbrush in the trash can. Well you can, but you just add trash for the workers to pick it up. And you shouldn’t throw the toothpaste tube into the trash can. However, you can mail them free of charge to a designated recycling center using software from Colgate and TerraCycle.
The recycling program accepts all brands of brushes, tubes, packaging and containers for filament. You must provide a box, but the software will give you a UPS label to print and attach. Collect trash and ship it every few months.
If you think this is too much work, honestly, don’t worry about it. Recycling your dental supplies is not the most important thing you can do to protect the environment. (You’ll be doing a lot more if you skip meat from time to time.) But if you have a spare box and time and want to double the smugness you feel after flossing, go for it!
Many local businesses cannot recycle toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes because they are made of several materials fused together. (Tubes are usually compressed from multiple layers; brushes have bristles and handles.) But many non-recyclable objects like smoke detectors, electronics, and plastic bags have alternatives if you look around. (Send the first two back to the manufacturer; take the plastic bags to the store with the trash can.)