Bupa Dental supports healthy teeth and a healthy planet through new recycling program
Australians are now able to recycle everyday oral health products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and floss containers at Bupa Dental practices around Australia as part of a new partnership with TerraCycle.
More than 30 million toothbrushes are used and disposed of by Australians each year, leading to approximately 1,000 tonnes of landfill annually [1]. The Everyday Dental Recycling Program, which was piloted in select practices earlier in the year will see the used products dropped off at Bupa Dental recycling stations and given a new life after being melted and remoulded into new recycled products
Bupa Head Dentist, Dr Cathryn Madden, was optimistic that dental care recycling would form an ongoing part of people’s sustainable mindset.
“During our initial trial of the program the feedback we had from our patients, team members and people from the local community who just wanted to pop in and drop off recyclable products was extremely encouraging,” Dr Madden said.
“Most of the people we spoke to didn’t know their oral health products were recyclable or that they couldn’t be disposed of in their yellow bins at home. Through this program, we look forward to working with TerraCycle to educate local communities and support healthy smiles and a healthy planet.”
People can drop off empty toothpaste tubes, toothpaste caps, manual toothbrushes, floss containers, electric toothbrush heads and mouthwash bottles across Bupa Dental’s 60 practices around Australia during regular opening hours without the need to make an appointment or be an existing patient.
If you’d like to find out more about how TerraCycle recycles dental waste, click here.
To find a Bupa Dental practice near you visit here.
[1] https://www.wastesorted.wa.gov.au/be-a-great-sort/reducing/reduce-waste-at-home/in-your-bathroom
Media reference number: 20/141
