The Philips Dental Care Recycling Programme​

Founded in 2001, TerraCycle® (www.TerraCycle.com) is the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle® works with over one hundred major brands in twenty-one countries across the globe to collect used packaging and products that would otherwise be destined for landfills. It repurposes that waste into new eco-friendly materials and products that are available online and through major retailers. The waste is collected through TerraCycle®’s National recycling programmes, which are free fundraisers that pay schools, charities and non-profits for every piece of waste they collect and return.

TerraCycle® launched in the UK (www.TerraCycle.co.uk) in September 2009 (its first market in Europe) and today operates in 12 European markets (UK, ROI, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden and Denmark). In the UK, TerraCycle® currently runs collection programmes for over 50 types of waste which can’t be accepted by local council run recycling systems.

Currently more than 6,800,000 individuals and organisations across the UK have signed up to collect, which to date has diverted over 194 million items of packaging waste from landfill while earning over £1,720,987 for schools, charities and non-profit organisations.  

The Philips Dental Care Recycling Programme WILL accept all brands of electric toothbrush heads and covers, electric flossing nozzles, flossing sticks, interdental brushes, dental floss containers and manual toothbrushes.

This recycling programme will NOT accept battery operated toothbrushes, electric toothbrush handles, toothpaste tubes and caps, outer cardboard and plastic packaging for toothbrushes, dental floss, batteries.

TerraCycle®’s role in the process is to convert the collected material – dental care waste in this instance – into a suitable raw material state so that it can be used in new applications. After we receive these materials, they are baled and stored until we reach minimum processing thresholds. When the time comes where it makes economic, environmental and business sense for us to process this material, we work with third party subcontractors to perform various stages of work on the material. 

In this particular case, the dental care waste shipments are received at TerraCycle®’s material recovery facility. The parcels are weighed, scanned and the contents (electric toothbrush heads and covers, electric flosser nozzles, flossing sticks, interdental brushes, dental floss containers and manual toothbrushes) are controlled and aggregated in bulk bags or bales.   

The aggregated material is then sent to one of TerraCycle®’s processing partners. Plastic is shredded, washed and sorted. The material is then dried, compounded and pelletized into hard-granulated plastic granules.

TerraCycle®'s role is to recycle the material into a usable format so that manufacturers in the plastic industry can use this raw material as a part of their production.

Anyone can sign up to the programme through the dedicated page on the TerraCycle® website. Either drop your waste at a TerraCycle® public drop-off location, set up a new drop-off location via the TerraCycle® website, or recycle via UPS by requesting a free shipping label.

When you are finished with your dental care product, rinse it under hot water to get any excess product off it. Then drop it off at your nearest public drop-off location, set up your own, or send via UPS. Wash or sanitise your hands before and after handling your waste.

Collecting and sending your used dental care products is not only safe and easy, but also carbon neutral. All carbon emissions generated in the sending process are offset by carbon reduction programmes, meaning there are no net carbon emissions into the environment.

There are two ways to recycle an electric toothbrush in the UK.

Kerbside collection

Your local authority may collect small electrical items including your electric toothbrush. Visit your local council page to see if they collect small electrical items. This is usually found under ‘what can I Recycle.’ If they do, follow the guidance provided to get your electric toothbrush collected and recycled.

Recycling centre

Another way to recycle your electric toothbrush is to take it along to your local recycling centre. To find your nearest one, visit https://www.recyclenow.com/local-recycling.