recycling cosmetic tubes

Toothpaste tubes

My advice on toothpaste tubes was to take them to Boots as this was the only way they could be recycled.  

Not any more! (November 2024!) WSCC has just announced that you can now put toothpaste tubes with the caps on into your kerbside recycling bin.

We have modified our recycling plant so that we can accept them as part of your regular recycling routine.

Do not be surprised if other Councils tell you they cannot be recycled at home.  We can in West Sussex.

Hard toothpaste tubes with pumps on top should be placed in the general waste bin, as they are made from a different type of plastic and cannot currently be processed.


Cosmetic tubes

‘Can the plastic tubes listed here be recycled in my blue top recycling bin? Toothpaste, tubes of shampoo, face wash, foot cream, etc.’

No, plastic tubes cannot be recycled in your blue top kerbside bin. However, all plastic tubes you list can be recycled at Boots stores. In Haywards Heath, for example, there is a green cardboard recycling bin on the right by the front door. You can also enrol into their recycling scheme and when you recycle five items you receive £5 onto your Boots Advantage card off your next spend over £10. Who doesn’t like a bargain? Here are details of the Boots Scheme www.bit.ly/3MOVmlW

It is not necessary to enrol to recycle at Boots, you can simply drop off your recycling when you are passing. They created the Recycle at Boots scheme so you can bring your empty beauty, health, wellness and dental products, from any brand, that can’t be recycled at home.

John Lewis also has a similar scheme. Take back empty beauty products to the store and if you’re a My John Lewis member, you’ll get £5 off when you spend £20 or more on beauty that day. Just bring in five or more clean, empty beauty product containers to any of our beauty counters.

They do not take glass containers or aerosols. What we have are alternative schemes that are being set up by industry to work with, and not in competition with, local councils. Boots or John Lewis do not want plastic bottles, tubs or trays for example. Hope you find this useful.