Put your empty toothpaste tubes into your red-lid waste bin.
Despite advertising and labels saying they are recyclable, toothpaste tubes cannot be recycled through the yellow-lid kerbside bin system in Western Australia.
None of the big Materials Recovery Facilities in WA are able to include toothpaste tubes in their marketable recycling commodities. They are treated as contamination and sent to landfill.
Residents who use Shire transfer station recycling drop-off facilities should put their empty toothpaste tubes into the waste bulk bins.
But don’t lose heart! Your yellow lid bin is still good for lots of household recyclables, namely plastic, glass or metal containers, paper and cardboard. Make sure it’s clean and dry and never put it into plastic bags – leave each item separate and loose. That way your recyclables make it through the process to a second, valuable life.
For more information on how you can recycle difficult consumer items (including toothpaste tubes) from your home, school or office, go to www.terracycle.com/en-AU TerraCycle offers a free shipping collection service for certain consumers.
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