Can you recycle empty mascara tubes?
You probably already know that mascara is bad for the environment, and most brands of mascara are made from plastics that take hundreds of years to break down in the landfill.
Recycling empty mascara tubes is a great way to do your part, but it might not be as easy as tossing your old tubes in the recycling bin at work.
Can You Recycle Empty Mascara Tubes?
Mascara tubes, like other plastic containers, can be recycled with the right care.
Packages of mascara are typically made of polypropylene and can be recycled in the same way you would any other plastic.
You can recycle mascara at a plastic recycling facility or drop off your empty tubes at a grocery store or drugstore near you.
How to Recycle Empty Mascara Tubes
Mascara tubes are made of plastic, which is a type of plastic that can be recycled.
Recycling your empty mascara tubes can help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill.
It also helps conserve natural resources like energy and water, which adds to their eco-friendliness.
Here’s how to recycle your empty mascara tubes:
1. Find a local recycling program
The first step is finding a place that will accept your used mascara tubes for recycling.
You can look online or ask your local government office for information about where you can take them for disposal or recycling.
Some cities have specific programs for collecting household hazardous waste, such as cosmetics, batteries, and electronics.
2. Separate the tube from its cap
Separate the tube from its cap and any excess product inside before putting it in your recycling bin or box.
Also, make sure to remove any stickers or labels from the tube so they don’t get mixed up with other materials being recycled and spread around town by mistake.
3. Cut off any plastic
Use a sharp pair of scissors or nail clippers to cut off any plastic parts sticking out of the top of the tube (if they’re still attached).
This will make it easier for machines at the recycling facility to process them properly.
What Can You Do With Empty Mascara Tubes?
- Make a paperweight.
- Make a pen.
- Make a vase.
- Make a jewelry box.
- Make a lamp.
- Use it as the base for your DIY mobile and decorate with beads, feathers, and other objects of your choice!
Is It Ok to Throw Away Mascara?
When you’re done with your mascara, it’s time to dispose of it.
This can be a hard decision, as you might feel like there are other options.
You may be tempted to flush your old tubes down the toilet or save them in case they are needed again later.
But neither of these is actually a good idea—you should throw out old mascara tubes responsibly.
The first thing to keep in mind is that mascara contains small amounts of heavy metals and chemicals that can pollute waterways when flushed down toilets or drains.
If those materials aren’t properly disposed of at a waste management facility, they could end up in our water supply and cause health problems for people who drink from sources affected by them (like those who consume city tap water).
So even though the packaging might tell you otherwise—that mascaras are “safe for septic systems”—it’s important not to flush them down the toilet because doing so could lead to pollution downstream from treatment plants where liquid waste enters rivers or lakes before finally reaching oceans where fish swim past their intake pipes for drinking water!
How Do You Properly Dispose of Old Mascara?
Since mascara is made up of oil, wax, and pigment, it’s not something you want to just throw away by tossing it in the trash.
In fact, the National Cosmetics Association estimates that over 1 million pounds of mascara are thrown out every year.
If you’re like us and have been guilty of doing this on occasion, don’t feel too bad!
It can be easy to forget that mascaras are different from other cosmetics and personal care products because they don’t really look like anything else we’re used to throwing away.
But what should you do instead?
You can keep your old mascara around until you have enough space for a new one but here’s another idea: think about donating them!
That way no matter what happens with your makeup collection (and more importantly—your eyes), someone else will get some use out of them instead of letting them go into our landfills
What Happens to Old Mascara at the Landfill?
You may be wondering if you can recycle mascara tubes.
Unfortunately, the answer is no—you cannot recycle or compost a mascara tube.
There are several reasons for this:
- Mascara tubes are made of plastic that’s not biodegradable or recyclable. When you throw them away in your trash, they don’t break down easily over time and the risk of contamination from other items in your trash can make recycling difficult or impossible.
- The waxes and oils used in mascara formulas make them difficult to separate from other materials during processing (which means they’re more likely to clog up machinery).
- Materials such as plastics also take longer than paper products like newspapers or magazines to break down into compost material at home composting facilities like backyard compost piles because they’re harder for bacteria to digest properly—and more susceptible than paper products are when mixed together with food scraps like banana peels!
Do Empty Mascara Tubes Go in the Trash?
The short answer is yes.
Empty mascara tubes are perfectly recyclable! But, before you go throwing them in the trash, there are a few things to consider.
- Is the brand of mascara eco-friendly?
Some brands use plastic that can’t be recycled or biodegradable packaging instead of recyclable plastic.
- Does your local waste management service accept them?
Not all municipalities recycle mascara tubes, so check with your city first.
- Are you using mascara from a brand that uses non-recyclable packaging?
If so, it’s best to save these for trash disposal at end-of-life instead of recycling them (even if it seems like an easy solution).
Is It Harmful to the Environment to Recycle Mascara Tubes?
No. It’s perfectly safe to recycle your mascara tubes as long as you make sure they’re empty first.
Mascara tubes are made of plastic, which is recyclable and non-toxic. Some special types of plastic are even completely biodegradable!
There shouldn’t be any reason not to clean out your mascara tube, even if it feels like a chore (they can get clumpy!).
Recycling helps protect the environment by keeping harmful chemicals out of landfills and incinerators.
It also helps keep our planet healthy for future generations, so go ahead and toss those used mascaras in the bin—you’ve done good!
Does Recyclebank Recycle Mascara Tubes?
Yes, you can recycle mascara tubes through Recyclebank.
You can also drop off your empty mascara tubes at a local recycling center.
Remember to remove the applicator wand first before recycling!
Make sure that the tube is empty!
What Is the Most Eco-friendly Mascara Brand?
The most eco-friendly mascara brand is Lush.
This company is cruelty-free, vegan, paraben and sulphate free, and totally free of synthetic dyes.
They also don’t use mineral oils in their products either!
Where Should You Recycle Your Empty Mascara Tubes?
To recycle your empty mascara tubes, you can do it in a few different ways.
You can recycle them at the store where they were purchased, or you can bring them to any recycling center or collection facility.
Recycling centers and collection facilities are often available at grocery stores, drugstores, department stores, and makeup counters.
- Bring your used mascara tubes to the makeup counter of a department store (Target is great for this).
- Don’t feel like leaving your house? Just drop off your old mascara tubes through their mail slot! They’ll take care of everything for you there—no need to get out of bed!
How Can You Make Sure My Mascara Stays Looking Great?
To keep your mascara tube looking good, you should:
- Keep it in a cool and dry place. Avoid extreme heat and cold, as well as direct sunlight.
- Don’t get it wet or let water get into the tube.
- If you drop your mascara onto anything that could contaminate it (like the floor), throw it away immediately—it’s no longer safe to use!
How Do You Clean Your Mascara Tube?
Once you’ve cleaned your wand, it should be ready to use again. To ensure that the tube is clean and ready for its next use, you should:
- Remove the wand from the tube and wipe it down with warm water and soap.
- Rinse out any residual makeup or product on both parts of the wand before placing it back into the tube (or letting dry completely if using an old mascara wand).
- Let both pieces dry separately before reassembling them in order to prevent further contamination from occurring during storage or travel.
Are There Any Specific Brands That Allow You to Recycle Mascara Containers?
You can recycle your old mascara tubes!
Some brands even have recycling instructions on their packaging.
If you’re not sure, check in with the brand’s social media accounts or contact customer service for more information about how to recycle your empty beauty products.
Some brands also offer recycling programs for their packaging.
For example, L’Oréal Paris has a program that allows you to send any amount of empty containers back to them for proper disposal and recycling.
Others like Revlon and Benefit Cosmetics have partnered with TerraCycle to create drop-off locations at select stores where you can bring back used mascara containers as well as other kinds of beauty products without having to go through the hassle of finding a local recycling center yourself.
Final Thoughts
So that’s the skinny on whether or not you can recycle those empty mascara tubes.
Like most types of plastic, there’s no free pass to send these items off to their doom unless they’re in their original packaging.
When in doubt, consult a recycling center (like Terracycle) or call your local waste management company.
