Sometimes it’s difficult to know which plastic items can be recycled and which can’t. For example, are floss picks recyclable in the UK?
Plastic pollution has become a real problem. One thing we can do is to ensure that we recycle as much of the plastic we use as possible.
But, alas, it’s not always easy to know what we can put into our recycling bin at home.
This is especially true when it comes to dental care products, such as electric toothbrush heads, toothpaste tubes, and floss picks.
That’s why, in this article, I will look at the question: are floss pics recyclable in the UK?
Home Recycling: Are Floss Picks Recyclable At Home?
When we talk of recycling, most of us mean that we can put a product or packaging in our recycling bin at home. So let’s start our article about the question of are floss picks recyclable in the UK here.
Single-use floss picks, also called floss harps, cannot be recycled through your recycling bin at home.
They consist of two types of plastic. The handle, which is a hard plastic, and the floss, which tends to be made of waxed nylon.
This mix of different plastics makes it impossible for general recycling facilities in the UK to recycle floss picks. They are just not set up for them.
This means that millions and millions of single-use floss picks end up in landfill, where they take centuries to break down. Or they get into waterways and oceans, where they cause a lot of harm to wildlife and marine life.
Special Recycling Facilities
The good news is, that this does not mean that single-use floss sticks are not recyclable at all. But they need to be processed in a special recycling facility.
There are a few such facilities in the UK, one of which is TerraCycle. It’s a commercial company that recycles plastic products that cannot be recycled with household recycling and turns them into plastic pellets.
These pellets are then sold to companies who make new plastic items out of them.
Philips has partnered up with this recycling specialist and created a recycling programme for certain oral care products, including floss picks.
The Philips programme is open to everyone and accepts any brand. All you have to do is drop off eligible items at one of the drop-off points.
From there they are then forwarded to TerraCycle, who will recycle the items.
The only downside is that the distribution of the drop-off points is a bit patchy. So depending on where you live, this programme might not be accessible to you.
Otherwise, this is a great way to recycle many dental care products, including electric toothbrush heads that you can’t put in your recycling bin.
Are Floss Picks Bad For The Environment?
Now that we have answered the question of are floss picks recyclable in the UK, let’s look at whether they are bad for the environment.
Because the majority of single-use floss sticks end up in landfill, they have a considerable impact on our planet.
Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down and often leaks toxic substances while doing so. Some plastics don’t break down completely and remain in our environment as so-called microplastics forever.
These tiny pieces of plastic have found their way into plants, animals and even our bodies. It’s not yet clear what harm they are causing, but scientists are worried.
But most plastic is also made from fossil fuels, which means it uses a limited source, making it an unsustainable material.
Single-use floss sticks are also only used once and then thrown away. This means billions of these are produced every year globally.
So while these single-use floss harps are very convenient, they are also very bad for the environment.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives
Now that we know that the answer to the question “Are floss picks recyclable in the UK?” is yes, but only in specialist facilities, let’s look at eco-friendly alternatives.
Because there are more environmentally friendly ways to floss your teeth. And it’s important that we don’t give up flossing, as it is vital for the health of our gums and teeth, as my dentist keeps telling me.
Single-Use Floss Picks Made From Different Materials
We have already established that single-use floss picks made from plastic that has been derived from fossil fuels are bad.
But you can get ones that have been made from more eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo or plant-based plastic.
Let’s look at plant-based plastic first, also called bioplastic. Unlike traditional plastic, it’s not made from fossil fuels but plant sources, such as corn starch.
This means the production of these plastics is more sustainable and therefore better for our environment. However, the end result is still plastic, with the same chemical structure.
This means, when it comes to disposing of it, it poses the same problems as traditional plastic. So while it would solve the problem at the production end, not at the disposal end.
A floss pick with a bamboo handle solves more of the problem. As long as the bamboo is sourced sustainably, its production is more eco-friendly than plastic, plant or fossil fuel derived.
And because it’s wood it’s compostable, which means you can put it in your garden waste bin or throw it on your compost heap.
But, and it’s a big but, it can only be composted without the dental floss attached to it. Unless the floss is made of silk, in which case it would also compost.
However, most floss picks have nylon floss attached to them, which is currently not recyclable, even if the nylon is bio-based.
So it is important that you always put dental floss in the general waste bin.
As you can see, there are more eco-friendly floss picks, but they are all still single-use, which creates a lot of waste and can be avoided.
Dental Floss Alone
Another option is to use just dental floss without any holder. This would reduce the amount of plastic that you use and dispose of.
But as we have already pointed out, dental floss is currently not recyclable. And the only green alternative is silk, which comes with its own problems.
It’s not vegan or cruelty-free as it comes from the silk worm. And the way the silk is produced is not very nice, to say the least.
So either way, dental floss has an impact on our environment.
You also use more floss when you don’t use a handle, which means there will be more waste.
It’s never advisable to reuse floss for hygiene reasons, as any dentist will tell you.
Reusable Floss Handles
A much better option for our planet are reusable floss handles. These can be made of plastic, bamboo or even metal and will probably last you a lifetime.
You attach a small amount of floss to the arm of the handle and floss your teeth. Then you remove the floss and dispose of it in the waste bin.
They are better for the environment, because you reuse them again and again. And you use a smaller amount of floss than without a handle, as I have already said.
You can also choose any type of floss you want, so you can look for floss that has been made from bioplastic, which will be more eco-friendly.
It’s important that we reduce the amount of single-use plastic, as this is the biggest contributor to plastic pollution.
And while there are some instances where single-use is the only option, for example with dental floss, a lot of the time it’s not.
So now that you know the answer to the question “Are floss picks recyclable in the UK?”, it’s up to you to decide your next step.
