February 23
The toothpaste dilemma?
Oral care products can’t be accepted in your recycling bin. This includes toothpaste tubes and caps, manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrush heads, toothbrush and toothpaste tube plastic packaging, and floss containers.
So, for my action today, as I had to make a trip into Katoomba anyway, I dropped my empty toothpaste tube off to the Terracyle Hub for recycling. There’s one at Integrated Dental Health at 61 Parke St Katoomba but you can search for one closest to you here
The pressure is on companies to move away from single-use plastic, but, in the meantime, what’s the best alternative? On the 31 January, Deb from headspace Katoomba shared her attempt to cut back on plastic waste by buying toothpaste in a glass jar.
I’ve checked out recipes for making toothpaste and am exploring a range of options …. keen to hear what everyone else is doing?
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2 Comments
Meredith · 24/02/2022 at 12:17 pm
Thanks for the reminder! We have a little bag full of all our collected old toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes that need to go somewhere. I think there might also be a recycling drop-off at the food co-op.
We switched to bamboo toothbrushes a while back, but the toothpaste one is still tricky for us. I’ve made it in the past, but I was the only one in the family who used it and it started to go mouldy before I got through it all! I’d like to try again with a smaller quantity and maybe another recipe.
My action for the day was that I bought myself a fountain pen and ink, inspired by your post in January. I’m loving using it, it feels so good to write with. And I’m loving not feeling the old Biro guilt! Also, because it feels so special I’m noticing myself being careful to keep track of it, where I usually lose biros all over the place.
I also finally sent our collection of used batteries off with my partner to a recycling collection point at one of the supermarkets.
Panetary Health Initiative · 02/03/2022 at 11:23 pm
So thrilled you love the fountain pen too! I think toothpaste is a tricky one for lots of people … let’s hope the pressure the manufacturers are getting from many quarters (plus eventual regulation) will result in better alternatives soon. Sounds like you got through lots of actions this week!