Toothbrushes

When this project started, I thought not being able to shop was going to be extremely difficult. Unfortunately, I had to break the rules the other day and by a toothbrush (I lost mine while traveling). This purchase got me to thinking about how wasteful toothbrushes can be. Every single time I visit the dentist, I receive a free toothbrush as well as the reminder to change my toothbrush about every three months. While a toothbrush may seem small and insignificant, it is estimated that about 50 million pounds of them are added to America’s landfills every year. Luckily, there are solutions for those looking for way to recycle this plastic necessity.

In recent years, many companies have risen to the call and started many alternatives to the normal Colgate toothbrush. Some companies like Recycline Preserve toothbrush have a special design, where the handle is made from recycled Stonyfield Yogurt cups. This way, when the toothbrush reaches the end of its life cycle you can recycle it along with all of the other #5 recyclables. Alternatively, you can also send it back to Recyline in a pre-paid envelope and it will most likely be further recycled into another durable product.

Other ecofriendly toothbrush lines, such as Terradent, contain innovative toothbrushes with replaceable heads. So, when you have worn through those bristles all you have to do is change the head and minimize your waster. There are also other companies like Radius, whose toothbrushes are not made from plastic. Instead, they build their products out of cellulose, a natural substance that will disengage or can be composted.

Another idea that has become increasingly popular is toothbrush subscriptions. After paying a small monthly fee, subscribers can order toothbrushes and send them back after they are completed in order for the company to recycle them into other toothbrushes. Depending on the company clients can receive toothbrushes semi-annually or when ever they choose.

Lastly, some are even using toothbrushes to make jewelry. HGTV recommends making your child or even yourself bracelets after melting down the plastic. After about a minute in boiling water, you are able to remove the head and bend the handle in order to reshape the toothbrush. For full instructions click here.