Do you know how to recycle an empty shampoo bottle or an old razor blade? Most of us do not and that is why it is estimated that in 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. Learn how to reduce your environmental footprint by starting in the bathroom . The cosmetics industry produces around 120 billion packages a year and most are not recycled, says Alex Payne , a spokesperson for TerraCycle, an organization specializing in salvaging difficult-to-recycle products and giving them a second life away from the landfill.   Throwing things in the recycling container without knowing what they are and if they are recyclable or not in your city is a phenomenon known as wish-cycling and that unfortunately is more common than you think. Another big mistake is not to empty and clean the containers before throwing them away. If you don't rinse them they can't be recycled! "Many products contain plastic microbeads that end up in the sea when they go down the drain," Payne explains. Look for natural and biodegradable alternatives, like this one with jojoba grain. Bia Exfoliating Wash, by Codex Beauty. $ 45. codexbeauty.com   If you want to contribute your grain of sand, pay extra attention to the materials from which your cosmetics are made, choose recycled and recyclable containers, and try to reduce the amount of plastic in your dressing table. For more information on how and where to throw your products, visit the TerraCycle website . Venus Embrace Swirl Color Blocked by Gillette. $ 12.99. In pharmacies.   Razor blades are one of the most difficult products to recycle because they combine plastic and metal, and we use so many! TerraCycle collaborates with brands like Gillette through programs where consumers can mail in their used blades or drop them off at gyms, stores and institutions that are part of the program and they take care of recycling.

Do you know how to recycle an empty shampoo bottle or an old razor blade? Most of us do not and that is why it is estimated that in 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. Learn how to reduce your environmental footprint by starting in the bathroom . The cosmetics industry produces around 120 billion packages a year and most are not recycled, says Alex Payne , a spokesperson for TerraCycle, an organization specializing in salvaging difficult-to-recycle products and giving them a second life away from the landfill. Throwing things in the recycling container without knowing what they are and if they are recyclable or not in your city is a phenomenon known as wish-cycling and that unfortunately is more common than you think. Another big mistake is not to empty and clean the containers before throwing them away. If you don't rinse them they can't be recycled! "Many products contain plastic microbeads that end up in the sea when they go down the drain," Payne explains. Look for natural and biodegradable alternatives, like this one with jojoba grain. Bia Exfoliating Wash, by Codex Beauty. $ 45. codexbeauty.com If you want to contribute your grain of sand, pay extra attention to the materials from which your cosmetics are made, choose recycled and recyclable containers, and try to reduce the amount of plastic in your dressing table. For more information on how and where to throw your products, visit the TerraCycle website. Venus Embrace Swirl Color Blocked by Gillette. $ 12.99. In pharmacies. Razor blades are one of the most difficult products to recycle because they combine plastic and metal, and we use so many! TerraCycle collaborates with brands like Gillette through programs where consumers can mail in their used blades or drop them off at gyms, stores and institutions that are part of the program and they take care of recycling.

When buying food and beverage items, consumers are looking for delicious treats and drinks, but younger consumers are also looking to enjoy products that can help the environment. The average consumer is more aware that single-use containers, often made of plastic, are negatively affecting the environment. A Consumer Brands Association report found 86% of Americans believe we are experiencing a packaging and plastic waste crisis. What are producers doing to address this crisis? CPG brands create their own sustainability solutions Most legacy food and beverage companies have set sustainability goals for their organizations. Many of those goals include increased availability of products that come in sustainable packaging. Conagra, Nestle and Unilever all made recent pledges to increase sustainable materials in their packaging over the next five years. Conagra intends to make all of its plastic containers renewable, recyclable or compostable while Nestle and Unilever both signed the European Plastics Pact, which designates that participants are committed to boosting the recycled plastic content for single-use products and creating reusable packaging. In California, PepsiCo is testing a better substitute for plastic rings on beverage six-packs: molded pulp and paperboard packaging. This trial demonstrates how CPG producers are working to address customer desires for sustainable packaging that still fills the durability needs of companies. “[W]e’ve worked collaboratively with our suppliers to ensure the two solutions that we’re testing meet the needs of our consumers and customers while also addressing our functionality and sustainability requirements,” Emily Silver, PepsiCo Beverages North America’s vice president of innovation and marketing capabilities, said to BeverageDaily. While many brands are creating their own packaging solutions or reducing their virgin plastic use, several are also investing in a broader eco-friendly packaging infrastructure. Nestle is planning to purchase roughly $1.6 billion worth of recycled plastic over the next five years, and Perrier has launched an investment program for startups that are developing packaging options that have a “positive environmental and social impact.” Loop takes reusing to the masses Rather than simply reducing or recycling virgin plastic, some companies are addressing waste by offering accessible, reusable packaging. Recycling business TerraCycle debuted its circular delivery service Loop to consumers in 2019, and it is currently available in Paris, France, and the northeast region of the US. Loop’s online platform allows users to shop for consumer packaged goods products in reusable packaging from a variety of brands, which are shipped in a reusable container -- the Loop Tote -- that rids the need for single-use shipping materials. “While disposable design focuses on making our packaging as cheap as possible, durable design focuses on making containers as long lasting as possible, allowing us to access unparalleled materials, design, and function,” the Loop site states. After using up the products, Loop customers return the empty packaging via free UPS pickup where it is returned to Loop to be cleaned and disinfected in preparation for reuse. “Customers are demanding that brands step up and provide solutions that produce less waste,” said Loop Publicist Eric Rosen. “Brands are responding to this push by investing in sustainable packaging solutions such as Loop’s reuse model.” The service is currently available online, but Loop products will be available in Walgreens and Kroger retail locations in the US later in 2020. Once Loop products arrive at retail, customers will also be able to make in-store returns of reusable containers instead of shipping them. Loop’s brand partners include food brands such as Haagen Dazs, Hidden Valley, Tropicana and Chameleon Cold Brew. The service also offers personal care and cleaning products from brands such as Gillette, Dove, Tide and Clorox. Rosen said that Loop welcomes participation from any type or size of CPG brand as long as they are committed to transforming their packaging from single-use to multi-use. “One challenge is redesigning packaging that lasts many reuse cycles,” Rosen said. “Brands must find the right material and design to suit their product. TerraCycle acts as a consultant for the packaging development process and tests all packaging for cleanability and durability prior to approval in the platform.” Rosen also revealed that Loop will be expanding internationally in 2020. Loop will partner with Tesco in the UK, Loblaws in Canada and Aeon in Japan. The platform also plans to be available in Germany and Australia in 2021. “Consumers can support brands that are taking the next step from recyclable packaging to reusable packaging,” said Rosen. “[R]ecycling is never going to be enough to solve waste at the root cause.”  

For several generations of young Americans, the idea of a ‘milkman’ is a completely foreign concept. But if you lived in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, and you were in the middle-class, you likely had a delivery truck dropping off fresh bottles of milk on your front porch—and you would leave the empties outside to be picked up. It was super convenient—and, better yet, there was no waste generated in the process. With tons of plastic containers overrunning landfills, and an innovative partnership of consumer brands emerging, the milkman idea of circulating containers is making a comeback. Loop launched in Paris and New York one year ago as a company that ships customers their favorite products packaged in reusable stainless steel or glass containers to be collected later for cleaning and refilling—just like your grandfather’s milk. They quickly expanding their operation to cover much of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, and this month Loop will be bringing their pioneering business model to the UK, a move they hope will make them the biggest eliminator of single-use plastics in the global grocery market. They also announced plans to expand soon into Canada, Germany, and Japan. Loop teamed up with some of the biggest consumer industry giants to create eco-versions of hundreds of popular products like Tropicana, Haagen-Dazs, or Hellmann’s mayonnaise; cleaning products like Tide and Clorox wipes; and skin and hair care essentials like deodorants, from companies like Dove, Pantene, L’Oreal, and Crest. Procter & Gamble, Loop’s biggest partner, which also owns a 2 percent stake in the enterprise, tapped into 10 of its most iconic brands as part of the Loop 2019 launch, including Ariel, Cascade, Crest, Febreze, Gillette, Pantene, Pampers, and Tide, according to GreenBiz. Image by Loop Stateside, the refillable products are available at Kroger and Walgreens, in addition to the online Loop store, and they cost nearly the same as their plastic counterparts, except for the cost of a deposit. Founded by the brilliant recycling company TerraCycle, Loop plans to expand across the U.S. this year where more consumers in specific zip codes can place empties inside their Loop insulated zipper tote on the doorstep—to be picked up, washed, and reused. In France, where Loop has already partnered with Carrefour—one of the largest grocery chains in Europe, consumers pay a small deposit on the items purchased, in case the packages aren’t returned later. This includes small bottles, where a deposit might only be a few cents, or large tubs that might contain laundry soap or paper towels. 1953 photo by Ben van Meerendonk / AHF, collectie IISG, Amsterdam When asked about the hefty carbon footprint of shipping the products all over the country and then shipping them back for washing and refilling, Loop’s founder, the mastermind of Terracycle, Tom Szaky, explained that if you add up all the energy and shipping it takes to create and distribute plastic, the carbon footprint is cut in half—plus you are digging up the actual root of the plastic problem, so it can be eliminated. Furthermore, as drone delivery technology becomes more and more feasible in major cities, delivery will become much cheaper and more energy efficient. Companies like DHL, UPS, Amazon, Google, Dominoes, Rakuten, and 7-11 all have drone-delivery technology. According to the Business Insider 2018-2020 report on online grocery shopping, 10% of consumers utilize online grocery store options, while the market value of these services doubled from $12 billion in 2016 to $26 billion in 2018 and shows no sign of slowing down. It’s possible that in the next ten years thanks to companies like Loop, all the benefits of the friendly neighborhood milkman will be resurrected to create a healthier planet for all.  

In March, the Municipal Office will join the The Lots of Socks movement started by Community Living of Kincardine and District in 2016.  The community is asked to show off its striped, polka-dot, neon, tall, ruffled and mismatched socks March 21^st, in honour of World Down Syndrome Day and to promote inclusion.   Gillette has partnered with TerraCycle to offer the World’s First National Razor Recycling program to help keep hard-to-recycle blades and razors from ending up in landfills. This initiative endeavours to help recycle the estimated 2 billion razors thrown away every year, and Huron-Kinloss wants to assist in the process.  A recycling bin is located in the Facilities office at the Ripley Huron Community Centre.  Please feel free to drop off your used razors.

10. CAR SEATS

This one may seem strange, but considering the heavy plastic, textiles, and metal that go into car seats, it only makes sense that (at least some parts) can and should be recycled.   How to recycle car seats:   Various states have recycling programs where you can drop off car seats to be recycled.   Walmart has also partnered with the company TerraCycle to hold car seat recycling events; Target has also hosted its own events. Both companies say they plan to continue.   The carseat manufacturer Clek has its own recycling program.   Where to recycle car seats:   You can drop off your car seat at a local donation point, but the website Recycle Your Car Seat reports that there are still very few of these in the US and Canada.   Is there a cost to recycle car seats?   May vary by location.  

9. TOOTHBRUSHES

  Before it becomes trash, consider which toothbrush you purchase. You can look for one made with materials that are recycled, or renewable (like bamboo). But even if you get a standard plastic toothbrush, these can be recycled, too.   How to recycle toothbrushes:   You can mail toothbrushes to TerraCycle, thanks to a partnership with Colgate. But the company asks for at least 5 pounds' worth (that's about 100 toothbrushes, reports Recycle Nation) per shipment, so you will need to save up your old brushes first.   Your dentist may also have their own toothbrush collection program, so it's worth asking next time you are in.   Where to recycle toothbrushes:   Your dentist's office or a local drop-off point are your best bets — or mail them in to TerraCycle with free shipping.   Is there a cost to recycle toothbrushes?   No.  

8. POTS AND PANS

 

If it is made of metal, then most cookware can be recycled. But your regular curbside pickup may not take these items.         How to recycle pots and pans:   Recycle these along with other scrap metal, which is collected locally. Importantly, you need to first remove nonstick coating, reports the website Pots and Pans.   So you might need to dig around and find a recycler that can do that for you.   Where to recycle pots and pans:   The website Earth911 has a search function for all sorts of different materials. Look up scrap metal to see where you can bring pots and pans locally, or whether your local garbage pickup will take these items. (Mine does, it turns out.)   Is there a cost to recycle pots and pans?   Some drop-off and pickup programs are free, but depending on where you live, there may be charges (or taxes).  

7. SNEAKERS

When your running shoes have completed their last mile, they can find another life as rubber track, turf fields, playground materials, and other athletic equipment.   How to recycle sneakers:   Drop them off at a location run by Soles 4 Souls, or a participating Nike store.   Where to recycle sneakers:   Both organization websites (linked above) have a tool to help you locate the closest drop-off point to you. You can also mail your shoes to Soles 4 Souls with free shipping.   Is there a cost to recycle sneakers?   No.  

6. CLOTHING (AND OTHER TEXTILES)

Donating or selling clothes are great ways to get rid of stuff you no longer wear. But items too well-loved to be worn still have use, too.   How to recycle clothing:   You can deposit old clothes and fabrics at a drop-off box or center near you.   Where to recycle clothing:   The American Textile Recycling Service has drop-off bins nationwide. You can contact them to find the one closest to your home.   Check local recycling programs and farmers' markets, too. Some of them have a regular drop-off station.   You can also mail clothes and fabrics to TerraCycle, for a price.   Is there a cost to recycle clothing?   Drop-off is free, but TerraCycle has a fee based on the size of the box of clothes you send in.  

5. EYEGLASSES

After they go out of style, or your prescription changes, bring your glasses to be recycled.   How to recycle glasses:   Bring used glasses to eyeglass stores or charities that accept them.   Where to recycle glasses:   You can bring old glasses to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, as well as glasses stores, like Lenscrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears, and BJ's, reports Pocket Sense.   Is there a cost to recycle glasses?   No.  

4. SHAVING RAZORS

You cannot put your old razors in the recycling bin, but these disposable items are made with dense materials that can be broken down and reused.   How to recycle razors:   The company TerraCycle partnered with Gillette to start a recycling program.   Where to recycle razors:   You can drop used razors at a point near you (TerraCycle has a map of locations), or ship them to TerraCycle.   Is there a cost to recycle razors?   Yes, you have to pay for shipping if you mail in the razors to TerraCycle.  

3. CDS AND DVDS

In the age of music and movie streaming, your aging CD and DVD collection is doing little more than sitting there, gathering dust and nostalgia.   When you are ready to clear them out, you can recycle them.   How to recycle CDs:   The CD Recycling Center of America takes your old CDs and DVDs, shreds them, and turns them into polycarbonate resin to make new stuff.   Where to recycle CDs:   You can mail old discs to the CD Recycling Center with free shipping (their website has a label you can print).   Is there a cost to recycle CDs?   No cost, but the CD Recycling Center asks people to make a small donation  

2. WINE CORKS

After you pop (and drain) that bottle, you can recycle the glass easily enough. But the cork can go somewhere other than the trash can, too.   First, a suggestion: There are tons of ways to upcycle corks around your home (Last Bottle has some sweet ideas). Of course, the wine will likely keep flowing after you have made all the cheese-knife handles and tiny planters you need.     Here's how to recycle the rest:   How to recycle wine corks:   Synthetic wine corks — and screw caps, if you are classy — can be recycled along with your usual household pickup, according to the website Wine Spectator.   For natural, old-school cork, however, you need to find a drop-off point, or mail them in.   Where to recycle wine corks:   The website ReCork has a tool that lets you search by zip code for a drop-off location near you.   If you prefer not to make the trek, you can also mail corks to Cork Club   Is there a cost to recycle wine corks?   No.

BICYCLES

  If you're getting a new set of wheels, don't let the old one go to waste — or worse, rust.   How to recycle bicycles:   Bike shops often have recycling programs that either use your old parts, or refurbish your bike.   If your bike is still rideable, you can bring it to a local charity and give it a second life with someone who needs it.   Where to recycle bicycles:   You may need to look at the local level here, searching your own area for drop-off points. There aren't a ton of national options.   If you live in the Washington, DC area, New York, and Illinois, the organization Bikes for the World has drop-off points.   Is there a cost to recycle bicycles?   The price of being green may vary based on where you live.

The Henkel-owned haircare giant has partnered with the waste management company to make its retail hair care, color and styling products recyclable across the US. The sustainability push will see shoppers invited to collect their empty packaging from Schwarzkopf products, and send them to TerraCycle. Empties will then be recycled and transformed into new products such as park benches, bike racks, pet food bowls and recycling bins.   "We're proud that 100% of Schwarzkopf retail product packaging will now be recyclable," Manuela Emmrich, Marketing Director, Hair US, Henkel Beauty Care, said in a statement. "Through the TerraCycle/ Schwarzkopf program, there is now a solution for hair product packaging that has historically been difficult to recycle, due to a myriad of curb-side recycling program requirements." "The expansion of Henkel's partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of Henkel's commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging, and our target of ensuring 100 percent of our Beauty and Laundry & Home Care packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025," added Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, R&D, Beauty Care, Henkel North America. Three different Schwarzkopf Recycling Programs have been established to deal with aerosols, hair coloration products and all other packaging, with individuals, schools, offices and community organizations all encouraged to participate. Collectors can be rewarded for their efforts by earning points that can be used for charity gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school; or charitable organization of their choice. Schwarzkopf is not the only beauty brand turning to TerraCycle to up its recycling game -- Herbal Essences, Garnier USA and Gillette have all recently launched initiatives with the company.

The Henkel-owned haircare giant has partnered with the waste management company to make its retail hair care, color and styling products recyclable across the US. The sustainability push will see shoppers invited to collect their empty packaging from Schwarzkopf products, and send them to TerraCycle. Empties will then be recycled and transformed into new products such as park benches, bike racks, pet food bowls and recycling bins.   "We're proud that 100% of Schwarzkopf retail product packaging will now be recyclable," Manuela Emmrich, Marketing Director, Hair US, Henkel Beauty Care, said in a statement. "Through the TerraCycle/ Schwarzkopf program, there is now a solution for hair product packaging that has historically been difficult to recycle, due to a myriad of curb-side recycling program requirements." "The expansion of Henkel's partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of Henkel's commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging, and our target of ensuring 100 percent of our Beauty and Laundry & Home Care packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025," added Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, R&D, Beauty Care, Henkel North America. Three different Schwarzkopf Recycling Programs have been established to deal with aerosols, hair coloration products and all other packaging, with individuals, schools, offices and community organizations all encouraged to participate. Collectors can be rewarded for their efforts by earning points that can be used for charity gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school; or charitable organization of their choice. Schwarzkopf is not the only beauty brand turning to TerraCycle to up its recycling game -- Herbal Essences, Garnier USA and Gillette have all recently launched initiatives with the company.

The Henkel-owned haircare giant has partnered with the waste management company to make its retail hair care, color and styling products recyclable across the US. The sustainability push will see shoppers invited to collect their empty packaging from Schwarzkopf products, and send them to TerraCycle. Empties will then be recycled and transformed into new products such as park benches, bike racks, pet food bowls and recycling bins.   "We're proud that 100% of Schwarzkopf retail product packaging will now be recyclable," Manuela Emmrich, Marketing Director, Hair US, Henkel Beauty Care, said in a statement. "Through the TerraCycle/ Schwarzkopf program, there is now a solution for hair product packaging that has historically been difficult to recycle, due to a myriad of curb-side recycling program requirements." "The expansion of Henkel's partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of Henkel's commitment to a circular economy for plastic and sustainable packaging, and our target of ensuring 100 percent of our Beauty and Laundry & Home Care packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025," added Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, R&D, Beauty Care, Henkel North America. Three different Schwarzkopf Recycling Programs have been established to deal with aerosols, hair coloration products and all other packaging, with individuals, schools, offices and community organizations all encouraged to participate. Collectors can be rewarded for their efforts by earning points that can be used for charity gifts or converted to cash and donated to the non-profit, school; or charitable organization of their choice. Schwarzkopf is not the only beauty brand turning to TerraCycle to up its recycling game -- Herbal Essences, Garnier USA and Gillette have all recently launched initiatives with the company.