CheckSammy Beauty Recycling 101
Beauty Product Recycling 101
Recycling your old and empty beauty products can be an uphill task, especially since not every material may be recyclable; despite this, it’s a good habit to nurture and certainly one that pays off for the environment, especially since the global cosmetics industry was valued at 532 billion dollars in 2017–with tons of beauty products purchased and used every single day.
As it stands, most foundation bottles, shampoo, moisturizer jars, and body wash bottles are going into landfills. This article would like to change the dialogue on how people perceive recycling their old beauty products–it doesn’t have to be as challenging as people make it out to be.
The Impact of the Beauty Industry on The Environment
According to the most recent reports from Zero Waste Week, beauty packaging alone amounts to a staggering 120 billion units every year. That includes plastic, paper, glass, and metal– all of which end up in landfills every year.
Find Out What You Can and Cannot Recycle
Most of your beauty products likely come in plastic packaging, so these empty products would be a priority – the only problem is that different plastics exist, so you’ll have to determine which kinds are most recyclable in your area. To narrow down what you can recycle, you should ideally stick to the following:
- basic bottles
- containers
- jugs
- jars or tubs
Shape and Size Matters In This Case
If you’re looking to recycle items like lipstick tubes, this may be doing more harm than good, as they often get lost during the sorting process. A good rule of thumb is to dispose of anything smaller than an index card from your recycle bin.
As for material– these need to be hard, and anything that can be squeezed or squished, such as a toothpaste tube, should be tossed in the dustbin.
Remember to Rinse Your Empties
Rinsing empty beauty containers is vital to maintaining the recycling process’s integrity.
If liquids or substances mix with other recyclable materials like paper and cardboard, it can get everything wet and ruin its recycling ability. It’s important to note that if recycled materials cross-contaminate, they can’t be adequately sorted or repurposed.
Overall, recycling beauty products can take a chunk of your time. This is why more than anything, the intention of fostering a good habit is essential. The more you intentionally separate your beauty waste, the more natural it will become. No doubt, you’ll be doing your part to mitigate the effects of pollution caused by mass consumerism in the long run! CheckSammy is your sustainability partner. So if you’re at a loss for whom to contact for help in your recycling journey, visit our website and get in touch!
Continue reading
Dive deeper into the CheckSammy Blog by reading one of our posts below
Feeling the Pain of Higher Resident Turnover? Apartment Junk Removal Can Help
If you’re a property manager, you’ve probably had a significant increase in tenant turnover over the last couple of years. So it’s no wonder apartment junk removal may be top of mind for you right now. There are several reasons for this shift. For one, the housing market is on fire right now. In 2020 […]
Read MoreSetting Up a Community E-waste Recycling Program
E-waste is the fastest-growing municipal waste stream according to the EPA, yet e-waste recycling isn’t keeping pace. In fact, only 12.5% of all e-waste is recycled, reports the EPA. Starting a community e-waste recycling program is a terrific way to ensure hazardous e-waste, like lithium-ion batteries, doesn’t end up in your community’s landfill. Creating an […]
Read MoreWaste Management’s Role in the Circular Economy
Establishing a waste management program for your business or community is one of the best ways you can contribute to the circular economy. Here’s everything you need to know about waste management’s role in the circular economy (and how to get involved). What Is the Circular Economy? Our current economic model is all about taking […]
Read More5 Reasons to Consider a Textile Recycling Program for Your Organization
Americans sent more than 17 million tons of textiles to landfills in 2018, a volume that is only increasing every year, reports the Environmental Protection Agency. When you think about the fact that it can take over 200 years for textiles to decompose, it’s easy to grasp how large textile waste’s contribution is to the […]
Read More8 Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Power Washing Services
If you’re into maintaining the curb appeal of your business or home, then you’ve probably heard of pressure washing. Pressure cleaning involves using high-pressure water spray to remove grime, mold, dust, paint, mud, and other junk from objects or surfaces. Many people worry that pressure washing isn’t good for the environment, but this couldn’t be […]
Read MoreWhy Our Customers Love Our Full-Service Junk Removal
If you’re looking for full-service junk removal services, you’ve come to the right place. CheckSammy is a one-stop shop for all your junk removal and sustainability needs. From our affordability, simplicity, and unrivaled turnaround times to our innovative sustainability solutions and patented technology and data, it’s clear why some of North America’s biggest companies choose […]
Read MoreTips for a Stress-Free Move From An Eco-Friendly Junk Removal Company
What does an eco-friendly junk removal company know about moving? Quite a lot, actually. Moving can be an especially chaotic time. You have to pack everything up, get rid of unwanted items, clean your property, load everything up, and move your things to your new location. That doesn’t even include the unpacking and resettling period. […]
Read MoreCollege Junk Removal Tips for Student Move-In Day
As the new school year gears up, colleges across the country are looking for ways to clean up their campuses before the new year begins, and many of them want to do so sustainably. College junk removal isn’t easy, though, especially around move-in week—and when trying to do so sustainably. As students move in and […]
Read More8 Items Hospitality Businesses May Not Know They Can Recycle
One hotel guest produces 2.5 pounds of trash every single day. Just a single hotel room produces around one cubic yard of waste each month, which totals 200 gallons of waste per room every month. Most of this waste goes straight to the landfill, even though research shows that up to 60% of it is […]
Read More