I’ll admit it, personal hygiene products stress me out.

Why do they have to make shampoo, body wash, shave gel, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and every other product in an unidentifiable (most likely) plastic where I don’t know if it can be recycled or not?

More importantly, what do I do with those empty tubes of DO for the BO?

Most deodorant tubes are made from #2, #4 or #5 plastic, which all are recyclable in the Philadelphia City limits. But, the turny wheel to revamp your deodorant supply and the leftover residue may cause problems (on the receiving end of the recycling facilities).

Fear not, friends. Terracycle & Tom’s of Maine has a nifty program where you can recycle your deodorant tubes, toothpaste containers, floss, mouthwash, and much much more. Just fill up a box or bag, download a prepaid shipping label and haul off to UPS for that material to get remade into a new product.

Whole Foods should also have a Preserve “Gimme 5” drop off bin for these tricky products, but that varies by store. Call & see if the bin is there before heading over.

Picture: Earth 911

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher