What We Can Recycle For You at Biome

Did you know that you can drop at any Biome store personal care and cosmetics packaging, toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes, wine corks, pens and markers for recycling whether purchased from us or not?  These are all items that can not be placed in your household recycling bin, so to save you the worry of what to do with them, we look after it for you!  We now also take good coat hangers at our Paddington and Balmoral stores, see more below.

Because at Biome we are committed to operating as zero waste as possible and reducing plastics ending up in our environment, you can also leave with us the packaging from any item you buy in store and we will recycle it for you including soft and hard plastics.

*Please note this is a service for personal use only, not for businesses.  Business wishing to recycle items such as pens and CDs should purchase their own Terracycle bin here >

Recycle Cosmetics & Skin Care Packaging

All containers must be completely cleaned out for us to take them from you.

1. Cosmetics e.g. lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow, bronzer, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, lip liner, and concealer packaging.

2. Hair care e.g. shampoo and conditioner bottles and caps, hair gel tubes, hair spray and hair treatment packaging.

3. Skin care e.g. lip balm, moisturiser, body wash, soap dispensers and tubes, body and hand lotion, tubes and shaving foam packaging.

We send the packaging to TerraCycle, who clean and melt into hard plastic that can be remoulded to make new recycled products.

Please note: Biome cannot accept personal care and cosmetics packaging that haven’t been completely emptied, cut in half where possible, and cleaned out, and we do not have the resources to do this for you. Before bringing in any personal care items to our stores to recycled via TerraCycle, we kindly ask that you please ensure they are empty of product and clean. 

Recycle Packaging From Products Purchased in Store

Before you leave the store with your purchases, feel free to take off the packaging and leave with us whether it be soft or hard plastic and cardboard.  We send all soft plastics to RedCycle.

We work with our suppliers to have them stop using plastic packaging in the first place.

Recycle Pens, Pencils, Markers, Highlighters

For individuals or householders (not businesses sorry*), bring all your empty pens, markers, highlighters and old pencils to a Biome store and we will send them to TerraCycle for recycling.

You can also post them to us: Biome, 51 Douglas Street, MILTON QLD 4064.

Recycle Toothbrushes & Toothpaste Tubes

All toothpaste tubes must be completely cleaned out for us to take them from you.

Many people do not realise that toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes must not be put in your Council recycling bin.  But now, rather than throw them in the rubbish and off to landfill, bring them to Biome for recycling via TerraCycle.  At TerraCycle they are shredded and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.  With credit to Colgate for sponsoring this program.

We can accept: empty toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes, toothbrush and toothpaste tube outer packaging, and floss containers. No Electronic toothbrushes and electronic toothbrush parts allowed.

Recycle Wine Corks

Cork is derived from the bark of the cork oak tree grown in the western Mediterranean region, and must be 25 years old before its first harvest.  It is harvested sustainably and actually helps to protect vulnerable cork forests by making them financially viable rather than clear felling for other agriculture. Therefore, we encourage you to actively choose wine bottles with corks!

Recycling cork keeps it out of landfill and saves resources and carbon emissions.  We have accepted corks for recycling since we opened our first store in 2005. Corks are given to various organisations that put them to use.

Biome’s Coat Hanger Exchange

As part of Biome’s mission to be part of a sustainable fashion industry, we’ve created a coat hanger exchange at Biome’s Paddington and Balmoral stores where you can drop off clean coat hangers (except dry cleaning hangers*) that are in good working order for others who need them.

For those who need coat hangers, you can take up to six hangers per person.  It’s early days, however, so we can’t promise how many hangers will be available when you drop in.  Keep an eye on Biome’s Facebook for updates.

Please note that we can only accept hangers at our stores located at 2 Latrobe Tce, Paddington, and 216 Riding Road, Balmoral.  Read more about how you can reduce coat hanger waste

*The coat hangers you drop off must be clean, no rust and not broken.  We do not accept dry cleaning hangers as they should be returned to the dry cleaners.

Uplift Bra Program – ON HOLD

Please note, that we used to take bras that were sent by Project Uplift to women in developing countries.  However, Project Uplift has put a hold on its program at the moment, so we can not accept bras at this time.

*Purchase a TerraCycle Zero Waste Bin for Your Business, Workplace or Organisation

Cork image source: © Mamoula | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos