Cosmetic Recycling

Below is a list of companies that have recycling programs. Plastic containers can also be recycled at your local recycling depot in the Greater Vancouver area or at your curb side if they have a resin label (a number on the bottom of the product, e.g. plastic 1 or 2). However, if the packaging (e.g. lipstick, eyeshadow compact) is not labelled with a resin number, you might not be able to take it into your recycling facility BUT some cosmetic companies may be able to take it back into their…read more

How to recycle? Before sending your plastic containers off to the recycling depot (or store), try your best to remove all the excess product. Wash out the container with water, then dry. How it’s recycled. You may be wondering how your plastic containers are recycled? At the recycling plant, the plastic products are separated by polymer type. Then, it is cleaned again more thoroughly (in case you did not do a good job prior to dropping off your containers at the depot). Then the containers are extruded into plastic pellets that…read more

Who has an impact on cosmetic packaging waste? EVERYONE! Not just the ladies. We all use cosmetics everyday! What are cosmetics? Health Canada derives their definition from the FDA.The FDA defines cosmetics as “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body…for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance” [FD&C Act, sec. 201(i)]. Therefore, products such as soap, shampoo, moisturizer, eye and facial makeup are all considered cosmetics. Why should we recycle cosmetic packaging? Not everyone is aware that cosmetic packaging such as the bottles, jars,…read more

Welcome to UBC Blogs. This is a project for my Human Ecology course at UBC. My community project revolves around cosmetic recycling. I will be posting about the ecological impacts of cosmetic wastes and a guide on where you can recycle empty cosmetic products in Vancouver, BC.