Due to the amount of neighbors that offered to help collect or transport non-curbside-accepted recyclables to the appropriate place, I created a neighborhood recycling Facebook group where residents and businesses in my neighborhood can be listed as drop-off sites for more difficult items.
The items collected are not allowed in the blue recycling carts and are either driven by the collector/volunteer to the City of Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center or mailed in to TerraCycle. Several of the TerraCycle programs support schools our neighborhood children attend/feed into.
Here’s an example of a recent update for the group:
Oral care, Brita Filters & Preserve toothbrushes via Gimme 5, food pouches, and battery collection addresses have been added/updated as of 07-14-19 in the group’s Files.
Tom’s of Maine Natural Care Recycling Program is not brand specific and accepts:
- Mouthwash bottles and caps
- Deodorant containers and caps (no aerosol)
- Toothpaste tubes and caps
- Soap packaging
- Floss containers
- Toothbrushes
Food Pouches should be super squeezed empty/clean and the lid put back on (if you still have the lid).
Our box stores such as Staples, Home Depot and Best Buy are listed, and we are excited that two of our businesses, The Lash Lounge and Envision Eye Center, are accepting fairly new-to-the-recycling-world items: used mascara wands and contact lens materials!
It’s pretty exciting! The poster board you see as the post’s featured image brought a lot of attention and discussion at the last neighborhood event. I highly recommend you consider a presentation board in similar vein for your area to help education neighbors and start discussions.