Recycling Hard to Recycle Plastics with TerraCycle through Eco Now Anaheim
When you have so many plastic wrapped & packaged items consumed regularly and you’re unable to replace with a sustainable swap or alternative, it can feel disheartening like you’re using and creating so much plastic waste. Because most of the time a majority of plastics can’t be recycled as it is, or take much preparation to be able to be accepted for recycling - here’s an option for you if you live in Orange County.
Eco Now’s Anaheim location in partnership with non-profit H&B ProdEx, is accepting hard to recycle plastic products, to sort through and prep for recycling with TerraCycle. I’ve been receiving email notifications from Eco Now that shared what type of plastics they accept each week, the breakdown usually is as follows (be sure to check out the Google calendar here for the most. up to date collection schedule):
Week 1 - Cleaning Product Packaging:
Tide pods, OxiClean
Arm & Hammer flexible plastic pouches
Aerosol containers
Plastic wipes canisters
Plastic cleaning product bottles
Air care products (Febreze, Air Wick, ect)
Swiffer products
Week 2 - Food Packaging:
Vitamin, Protein nutrition and Rx bottles
Protein nutrition flexible plastic pouches
Baby food plastic containers (Gerber and similar products)
Coffee pods
Bread and cereal bags (Bimbo, Orowheat, etc.)
Snack (chips, dried fruits, etc.) bags and flexible plastic pouches
GoGo Squeze pouches and caps
Water filters and pitchers (Brita, PUR, and similar products)
Food Storage plastic containers
Pet Food flexible plastic pouches and cans
WE cannot accept styrofoam food trays at this time
Week 3 - Toys & Accessories:
Plastic toys (Hasbro and similar products)
Electronic plastic toys (V-Tech, Leaf Frog, and similar products)
Balloons (deflated)
Pens, markers, highlighters
Pop Socket products (phone cases, sockets)
Week 4 - Beauty and Bathroom:
Make-up/Cosmetic products
Beauty/Personal Care products
Dental Care products (toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes/bottles, mouthwash bottles, floss containers)
Lip balms (Burt’s Bees, EOS, L.O.L. ..)
Candle jars
Shaving razors
Miscellaneous items Eco Now collects everyday:
Small batteries (we send them to OC Waste)
David's Naturals Toothpaste Keys (We return to David's)
Albatross Safety Razor Blades (please bring in a container that is closed and secure for safety reasons, we will return to Albatross)
Community Containers for Refilling In-Store (3 at a time, glass or plastic, must be clean, dry, odor free, and label removed)
Here’s how to prepare your plastic for dropping off at Eco Now:
Drop Off Location - 207 W Center Street Promenade Anaheim, CA 92805
Items must be clean, empty, and dry (cut open toothpaste tubes, remove any residue, etc).
We will be accepting different types of items every week. Please get familiar with our calendar and bring in the appropriate items on the week assigned. This will help us process the products properly for TerraCycle. We will not be able to accept items outside of our timeline. (above and on the google calendar here)
We will not accept drop offs of any kind on Saturday's as that is the day we process your products.
A final note from Eco Now:
TerraCycle is meant to be used as a last resort for recycling. Often times TerraCycle products can only be broken down and upcycled one time. We have most, if not all, of the sustainable alternatives to these items in our stores. We would love to assist you to find the alternatives to these plastic items. We are thrilled with TerraCycle and their innovative practices, but we must remember that refillables and reusables are the most sustainable practice to date. Thank you for your commitment to living a more sustainable life.
If you’re not able to participate in this drop off/collection program through Eco Now, visit TerraCycle and check out the free recycling programs and other recycling options.