If I toss my toothpaste tube in my recycling bin, can it be made into a new toothpaste tube further down the line?
Unfortunately, the answer is… no.
Technically, you could argue there are ways of taking apart toothpaste tubes and downcycling certain bits of them, sure. But is it a good or efficient way to deal with the 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes we toss out every year? In my opinion – no.
That’s why Solid exists, after all.
This month, I wanted to take a closer look at what really happens when you try to recycle your typical toothpaste tube in New Zealand.
What’s inside a toothpaste tube?
Not the toothpaste part- we’re talking about inside the actual packaging. A toothpaste tube is made up of layers of plastic laminate and aluminium, topped off with a #5 plastic lid. In the recycling industry it’s what’s known as a “Frankenstein’s monster” – mixed material packaging that first needs to be separated before anything can be processed.
What happens if you put toothpaste tubes in your recycling bin?
Great question! In New Zealand, the short answer is: it goes to landfill. Toothpaste tubes are not accepted in yellow-lid recycling bins in most parts of NZ. Even Colgate’s newer HDPE (#2 plastic) tubes, which are technically recyclable, will most likely get sorted out and diverted to landfill. This is because the recycling facilities simply aren’t set up to handle out of the ordinary items.
What about Terracycle then?
One company will accept certain oral care waste for recycling —the US-owned TerraCycle.
In their own words, TerraCycle have “proven it is possible to recycle, upcycle, or reuse nearly everything on Earth.” And they do mean anything – there’s even a TerraCycle cigarette butt program sponsored by British American Tobacco.
Here in New Zealand, TerraCycle runs an Oral Care Free Recycling Programme. They accept Colgate branded toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, floss containers and packaging at participating drop-off points (often dental clinics, pharmacies or eco-stores).
Colgate used to accept other brands’ oral care waste into their recycling scheme, though they stopped this in 2023 and now only accept Colgate branded items.
This means that Kiwi brands who previously “piggybacked” off this scheme have either stopped accepting tubes altogether, or are storing them in a warehouse until they work out what to do with them.
Anyway, once collected, these items are shredded, cleaned, and processed into low-grade plastic that can be used to make things like park benches, playground equipment, or planter boxes. It’s not perfect – it’s downcycling rather than truly circular recycling.
The pros of recycling toothpaste tubes
Companies are taking on some responsibility for their packaging waste. Partnering with TerraCycle is better than ignoring it altogether
Schools, community groups and non-profits benefit by earning rewards through the Oral Care Recycling scheme.
It helps more people think about waste and where it goes, even if the system isn’t perfect.
The cons of recycling toothpaste tubes
Concerns of greenwashing. In 2023, Colgate-Palmolive faced a class action lawsuit in California for allegedly greenwashing their toothpaste tubes as “recyclable,” despite most recycling facilities not accepting them.
It’s not a closed loop - once recycled, the plastic won’t become new toothpaste tubes.
It involves shipping waste to specialist facilities, often overseas), adding extra carbon emissions.
It doesn’t solve the root problem: that toothpaste packaging is mostly unnecessary plastic.
It risks reinforcing the idea that we can just “recycle it” and keep using single-use plastics.
My final thoughts
I’m not anti-recycling. Some materials, like aluminium, work really well in a proper recycling system. But in general, I think the bigger challenge is designing better systems and packaging in the first place – ones that are reusable or refillable rather than just recyclable. I’ll be the first to admit: Solid isn’t perfect by any means.
I’m the first to admit – Solid’s system isn’t perfect either. For example, our jar return percentage has gone down since we have become more widely available – ie in New World. But, like other companies trying to do better, we’re always working on ways to get our toothpaste to our customers in the most sustainable way possible.
Can you recycle a toothpaste tube?
If I toss my toothpaste tube in my recycling bin, can it be made into a new toothpaste tube further down the line?
Unfortunately, the answer is… no.
Technically, you could argue there are ways of taking apart toothpaste tubes and downcycling certain bits of them, sure. But is it a good or efficient way to deal with the 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes we toss out every year? In my opinion – no.
That’s why Solid exists, after all.
This month, I wanted to take a closer look at what really happens when you try to recycle your typical toothpaste tube in New Zealand.
What’s inside a toothpaste tube?
Not the toothpaste part- we’re talking about inside the actual packaging. A toothpaste tube is made up of layers of plastic laminate and aluminium, topped off with a #5 plastic lid. In the recycling industry it’s what’s known as a “Frankenstein’s monster” – mixed material packaging that first needs to be separated before anything can be processed.
What happens if you put toothpaste tubes in your recycling bin?
Great question! In New Zealand, the short answer is: it goes to landfill. Toothpaste tubes are not accepted in yellow-lid recycling bins in most parts of NZ. Even Colgate’s newer HDPE (#2 plastic) tubes, which are technically recyclable, will most likely get sorted out and diverted to landfill. This is because the recycling facilities simply aren’t set up to handle out of the ordinary items.
What about Terracycle then?
One company will accept certain oral care waste for recycling —the US-owned TerraCycle.
In their own words, TerraCycle have “proven it is possible to recycle, upcycle, or reuse nearly everything on Earth.” And they do mean anything – there’s even a TerraCycle cigarette butt program sponsored by British American Tobacco.
Here in New Zealand, TerraCycle runs an Oral Care Free Recycling Programme. They accept Colgate branded toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, floss containers and packaging at participating drop-off points (often dental clinics, pharmacies or eco-stores).
Colgate used to accept other brands’ oral care waste into their recycling scheme, though they stopped this in 2023 and now only accept Colgate branded items.
This means that Kiwi brands who previously “piggybacked” off this scheme have either stopped accepting tubes altogether, or are storing them in a warehouse until they work out what to do with them.
Anyway, once collected, these items are shredded, cleaned, and processed into low-grade plastic that can be used to make things like park benches, playground equipment, or planter boxes. It’s not perfect – it’s downcycling rather than truly circular recycling.
The pros of recycling toothpaste tubes
The cons of recycling toothpaste tubes
My final thoughts
I’m not anti-recycling. Some materials, like aluminium, work really well in a proper recycling system. But in general, I think the bigger challenge is designing better systems and packaging in the first place – ones that are reusable or refillable rather than just recyclable. I’ll be the first to admit: Solid isn’t perfect by any means.
I’m the first to admit – Solid’s system isn’t perfect either. For example, our jar return percentage has gone down since we have become more widely available – ie in New World. But, like other companies trying to do better, we’re always working on ways to get our toothpaste to our customers in the most sustainable way possible.