Can you recycle toothbrushes?

Manual toothbrushes mix plastics and nylon bristles and can't go in kerbside recycling — general waste is the default. TerraCycle's oral-care programme (drop-off points in some pharmacies, dental practices and Boots' Recycle-at-Boots scheme) accepts toothbrushes, heads and toothpaste tubes. Bamboo brushes: snap the head off (bin it) and compost the handle.

Tips

• Find a TerraCycle oral care drop-off near you
• Use old brushes for cleaning first
• Electric toothbrush heads go to the same schemes; the handle is WEEE

Which bin does it go in?

General waste; or specialist schemes (TerraCycle/some Boots stores)

Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.

Background: Plastic numbers 1–7 explained.

Also searched as: manual toothbrush, bamboo toothbrush.