IS YOUR toothbrush coming to the end of its usable life? Or are you furiously trying to squeeze out the last little glob of toothpaste? Don't just chuck them in the bin, give them to your children attending Woolgoolga Public School to put in their special bin and send off as they take part in the Terracycle Recycling Challenge.

Even non-electric toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and dental floss containers can be recycled, although the only national scheme accepting these items is TerraCycle.

TerraCycle is eliminating the idea of waste by recycling the non-recyclable. They offer free recycling programs funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world to help you collect and recycle your hard-to-recycle waste. To date, over 63 million people are collecting items in 20 countries and have collected billions of pieces of waste, raising $15 million for charities around the world!

The innovative folk at TerraCycle will collect your waste (even if it’s all in the same old bin), and cleverly transform it into schmick new products for resale. Founded by now-CEO Tom Szaky, the New Kersey-based company now operates in 20 countries worldwide.

This term, Sacred Heart will take on an exciting new recycling initiative to help reduce waste and fundraise for charity! TerraCycle recycles the “nonrecyclable” and from Term Two, Sacred Heart will have two new TerraCycle bins on site, outside the Library. It is hoped that all proceeds raised will contribute to the total that is donated by the school after Sacred Heart Day.   The first BOX recycles oral care products such as old toothbrushes, floss containers, empty toothpaste tubes and caps, empty packaging from toothpaste and toothbrushes. For every kilogram of recycled packaging, we raise money to donate towards a charity. Our school also goes into a competition to win $1000 and a park bench made of…recycled oral care products! The second box recycles empty beauty care packaging and much like the oral care recycling, we earn money for every kilogram collected. Accepted waste includes:   Cosmetics packaging such as used lipstick and lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow, bronzer, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, lip liner, and concealer packaging. Hair care packaging such as used shampoo and conditioner bottles and caps, hair gel tubes and caps, hair spray and hair treatment packaging. Skin care packaging such as lip balm, face moisturiser, face and body wash soap dispensers and tubes, body and hand lotion dispensers and tubes and shaving foam packaging.   ALL THE PACKAGING NEEDS TO BE EMPTY AND WASHED OUT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. So…start collecting your oral care and beauty product waste over the holidays, and watch this space for more information!