I’ve noticed a few people in my life prefer skincare and beauty products that either come in squeezable tubes or come in pump bottles. They’re often easier to dispense and use. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, your local home recycling may not accept these types of packaging – even if the materials themselves are recyclable. Many pumps contain a metal spring which means it is mixed material, in Toronto that means it goes into the garbage. Even if you take the extra step of removing the spring, the plastic pieces are too small to be accepted into Toronto’s recycling stream.

You should always check with your local recycling collection to see what types of material and products can or can’t be recycled from your home.

A recycling logo doesn’t necessarily mean you can put it in your recycling. Check on your city’s recycling website first. Don’t just wishfully recycle, that can cause clogs and contamination, creating even more waste.

For example in Toronto, New York, and Seattle stiff plastic bottles are recyclable, but plastic squeeze tubes are not accepted. However, Chicago will accept plastic squeeze tubes and all sunscreens — even sprays!

Don’t dismay, some stores will offer recycling for harder to recycle items like plastic bags and electronics.

TerraCycle has partnered with a few companies to provide a way to recycle most cosmetic packaging.

United States

In the US, all brands of beauty products and packaging can be dropped off at Deciem and Nordstrom stores.

For the list of Deciem stores:
https://bit.ly/3wnt20m

For the list of Nordstrom stores:
https://bit.ly/3gtvnQM

In the US, all brands of beauty products and packaging can be mailed in through a program sponsored by Garnier.

The minimum weight of each shipment must be 15 pounds.

To sign up for a shipping label:
https://bit.ly/3pQiSTu

Canada

In Canada, all brands of beauty products and packaging can be dropped off at Deciem and Holt Renfrew stores.

For the list of Deciem stores:
https://bit.ly/3glZVoA

For the list of Holt Renfrew stores:
https://bit.ly/3q0OpTb

United Kingdom

In the UK, all brands of beauty products and packaging can be dropped off at Deciem and Maybelline drop-offs.

For the list of Deciem stores:
https://bit.ly/2ToZAbR

For the list of Maybelline drop-offs:
https://bit.ly/3gxS8mv

Australia

In Australia, all brands of beauty products and packaging can be dropped off at David Jones locations.

For more information:
https://bit.ly/3iFmxSS

New Zealand

In New Zealand, all brands of beauty products and packaging can be mailed in through a program sponsored by Garnier.

To sign up for a shipping label:
https://bit.ly/2TBqvRJ

Brasil

In Brasil, all brands of beauty products and packaging can be dropped off at Natura and The Body Shop locations.

For the list of locations:
https://bit.ly/2TpdV8m

TerraCycle does offer other recycling partnerships in other countries that I haven’t listed here.

To check if your country has a program visit TerraCycle.com or https://bit.ly/3cGvRCa

Find your country, click through to ‘Free/National Recycling Programmes’ and browse through ‘All Recycling Programmes’.

"How to recycle cosmetics through TerraCycle in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Brasil" on KindofStephen.