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Honestly, the subliminal and overtmessaging about sustainabilityis getting to me (in a good way).
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Ive got it on lock in the kitchen, from cardboard egg cartons to reusable FreshDirect bags.
But once I step into my bathroom, its like I forget that recycling is even a thing.
Theres a huge drop-off in the amount of recycling that takes place if you move away from the kitchen.
Its not just consumers who have yet to get on the cosmetics-recycling bandwagon.
The beauty industry as a whole is just now starting to think aboutsustainable packagingin a meaningful way.
It used to be that the only products wrapped in post-consumer recycled plastic were at Whole Foods.
Traditionally, companies buy so-called virgin (unused) glass or nonrecycled plastic to create their bottles and jars.
There is no standard for it, says Wedinski.
Here are 10 important pieces of information to help you recycle your beauty products.
Every city has its own rules when it comes towhat is recyclable.
Check your local government website to see the restrictions for your community.
Different communities accept different materials.
But since China stopped importing plastic from other countries in January,recycling in Americais facing greater challenges.
There are a few context clues on the package that tell you if its recyclable or not.
But not every package with a Mobius loop is necessarily recyclable where you live.
A number three denotes PVC, which Dorn describes as a particularly a problematic material to recycle.
It belongs in the trash.
As far as numbers four through seven, it depends on your local community rules.
Another symbol you might see is a dot that sort of looks like a yin-yang with arrows.
That is an indication that the product is made of recycled materials.
Thats why its important to know your numbers.
A small-format container doesnt flow well through curbside recycling program, says Dorn.
Most of the facilities that sort recycling are automated with optical and physical sorter machines.
With respect to glass, clear, brown, and green are preferred for recycling programs, says Dorn.
Anything that is multilayer or multimaterial in format is challenging to recycle.
Another recycling red flag is the pumps and droppers on top of bottles, which are often multimaterial.
Mostdry shampooand hairspray cans are made of steel and aluminum, which are both recyclable.
Of course, check with your local rules first to see if aerosol is accepted.
But it actually matters.
You should also venture to remove any labels on the bottle.
Right now, there is no 100 percent post-consumer recycled pump, he says.
What Im hoping to do is recycle bottles into pumps for the future.
This human error is causing big problems in the recycling industry.
So, its best not to put it in there.
