Can You Recycle Brita Water Filters?
Often, everyone needs a water filter. At least, if for nothing, it helps you remove the many impurities in the water you drink. Brita water filters are one of the best options for making your drinking water clean. The sad part is that your Brita filters cannot last forever.
Brita recommends that you change your filters once every two months. Indeed, you don’t want to litter your environment when you do away with your old filter. So, you’ll do a lot of good if you try to recycle. The million-dollar question now is, can you recycle Brita filters?
This article will respond to your many questions on whether you can recycle Brita filters. We’ll also give you tips on recycling and other options for disposing of your filters.
What’s more? We’ll provide extra info on other Brita products you can recycle. Are you ready to know if you can recycle Brita water filters? Dive in!
Are Brita Water Filters Recyclable?
It’s possible to get stuck whenever you choose to dispose of your Brita water filters. The question of whether you can recycle water filters is prevalent. And the reason for this question is that many water filters come from hard plastic.
You should know that this plastic is a type ‘5’ plastic. And many companies do not recycle type ‘5’ plastics.
Also, filters carry with them a lot of contaminants. During recycling, other recyclable materials may come across these impurities and may get damaged. All these problems make it tough to recycle plastic water filters.
However, the good news is that you CAN now recycle your Brita water filters. The company that produces your Brita water filters works alongside TerraCycle to recycle your filters. TerraCycle is a company that focuses on recycling plastic products that seem challenging to reprocess.
When you get to the point of getting a new Brita water filter, you should consider recycling your used one. Thankfully, the next section will tell you how to go about the process.
How to Recycle Brita Filters? (Step-by-Step Process)
Now that you know that you can recycle your Brita filters, there are several ways you can go about recycling it. You can either send it to TerraCycle or a local recycling plant. Either way, we’ll show you how to go about recycling in simple ways.
The first step is to prepare your Brita filter for recycling. This preparation involves taking some steps to make sure the filter is easy to recycle. The following are the processes you should take in preparing your filter for recycling.
1. Dry Your Brita Filter for 3-6 Days
When preparing to recycle your Brita filter, the first step is to leave it out to dry. You should ensure to clean your filter with water. Afterward, ensure to put it in an airy place for about three days to dry thoroughly. To be double sure that your filter is dry, you can leave it out for close to 6 days.
Also, it would be best if you don’t try to hand dry your filter. Asides from the difficulty that comes with reaching into your filter, it is also not safe. Your filter contains a lot of contaminants that are unsafe for you to touch.
2. Clean Off Dirt or Mud from Your Filter
You should use a clean and dry fabric to wipe off the surface of your filter. Wiping off dust and mud from the filter will prevent its contaminants from affecting other materials during recycling. To make sure your filter doesn’t get wet again, don’t use a damp fabric.
3. Put Your Brita Filter in a Plastic Bag
After cleaning your filter, you are to make sure no more dirt meets your filter. To ensure this, place your Brita filter in a plastic bag. When recycling more than one filter, you should put them in different plastic bags. This way, you can prevent contaminants in one filter from spilling into another. Also, ensure you tie the mouth of the plastic bag you use.
4. Send Your Brita Filter to TerraCycle
The next step is to ship your filter for recycling. We advise you to recycle your filters under Brita and TerraCycle’s recycling program. If you recycle your filters with TerraCycle, you stand a chance to get rewards from Brita.
We will show you how to recycle your Brita filters with TerraCycle in four steps.
- Sign in to Brita: The first step is to create a Brita account if you don’t have one. Log on to Brita’s recycling webpage and fill in your details to register. This process is entirely free and enables you to win rewards. However, you may still send filters directly to TerraCycle without creating a Brita account.
- Pack Your Filter Into A Shipping Box: Whether you enroll on the Brita page, this step is how you get to send your filter to TerraCycle. Place your filter into a shipping box and seal it off.
- Get Your Shipping Label: If you have a Brita account, fill your mailing form on the website. Afterward, you will get a shipping label. Nevertheless, if you don’t have a Brita account, you can get your shipping label from TerraCycle. Register your account on TerraCycle and print a shipping label from the home page. TerraCycle will supply you with a shipping label for you to print.
- Ship off Your Filter with UPS: After printing your shipping label, affix it to your box. The next step is to drop your package at the UPS store closest to you. When you do so, UPS will send your filter to TerraCycle for recycling. If you choose to use another shipping company, you may need to pay a little amount.
Recycling Your Brita Filter with Other Recyclers
It’s not compulsory to use Brita and TerraCycle’s recycling option. Some plants offer recycling services for your Brita filters. Recycling with other plants is almost as easy as recycling with TerraCycle. You can follow the following steps when recycling with another company.
- Check for Your Filter’s Plastic-Type: Generally, Brita makes its filters from type ‘5’ plastic. However, some models may come from different plastic types. There’s no harm in being double sure.
To find out, check the surface of your filter for three connecting arrows that form a triangle. Check the middle of the triangle for a number. The number determines the type of plastic. This number will be useful when you want to contact a recycling plant.
- Search for Recycling Plants Close to Your Area: Do a quick search online for recycling plants near you. Enter the name of your city and the words “recycling plant.” Ensure to turn on the GPS location of your device. You’ll find a list of recycling plants in your area.
- Contact a Recycling Plant: Place a call or text to a recycling plant to know if they can recycle your water filter. You should let them know the plastic type of your water filter. Some plants may recycle a ‘5’ plastic but not water filters. So, ensure to provide them with all information.
- Drop off Your Water Filter: When you get a plant that accepts your type of water filter for recycling, take your Brita water filter there. The recycling plant will handle the rest at no cost to you.
Are Brita Filters Biodegradable?
You will agree that Brita filters are useful. But exactly how environmentally friendly are they? One of the most vital points to know is whether Brita filters can break down biologically.
Brita filters come from a plastic material called polypropylene. Producers of plastic get this material by processing petrochemicals. So, like many petroleum-based plastics, polypropylene is not entirely biodegradable.
Specifically, Brita filters may take up to 30 years before they begin to decompose. This is because your Brita filters need a significant amount of heat and light to break down quickly. And the environment cannot provide the heat.
However, some companies can artificially break down your product faster. They usually apply heat and light to break down your Brita filter.
Are Brita Water Bottles Recyclable?
Brita water bottles come from the same material that producers use in making Brita filters. The easy way out is to say Brita water bottles are recyclable. But, we’ll go a step further to explain to you how.
While many recyclers do not accept plastic ‘5’ materials for recycling, you can recycle your Brita bottles. Brita works together with TerraCycle to recycle all its plastic products.
So, by following the same steps as with your water filters, you can put your bottles up for recycling.
How to Dispose of Brita Filters?
Brita filters have a short lifespan. Even Brita advises you to use them for only two months. So, what can you do to get rid of your used filters? We offer you some of the safe options you should consider whenever you want to dispose of your filter.
1. Recycle
The safest, cheapest, and the most environment-friendly option is for you to recycle your Brita filter. Brita partners with TerraCycle to recycle their products. They also offer you bonuses and rewards when you recycle your products. With these benefits, nothing should stop you from putting up your filter for recycling.
2. Donate to Plastic Producers
If you are not recycling your Brita filter and want to dispose of it, you should consider giving it out. When you put up your filter for plastic producers, they can degrade your filters. The material gotten from this process can be useful in making other products.
3. Trash It
The last option for your Brita filter is for you to throw it in the trash. While this is not always the best thing to do, you can dispose of your filters in harmless ways. When trashing your filter, put in a plastic bag, seal it off, and place it in your garbage can. This way, you’ll prevent the contaminants in your filter from coming reaching other objects.
Which Other Brita Products Can You Recycle?
Asides from Brita filters and bottles, what other Brita products can you recycle? Well, Brita produces a variety of products, and many of its products are recyclable. The following are Brita products you can recycle.
- Brita Dispensers
- Brita Filter Packaging
- Brita Pitchers
- Brita Stream Pitchers
The good thing is that recycling these products is as easy as recycling filters and bottles. Thoroughly clean, pack, and ship them off for TerraCycle to do the job.
Conclusion
It is an excellent practice when you consider your environment before you do many things. The same applies to when you dispose of your Brita filters. Following the recycling steps in this article, you can get rid of your filters in a way that keeps your environment safe.
So, now that you know better, we hope that you will do more to keep your environment safe.
References:
https://www.wikihow.com/Recycle-Brita-Filters
https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/brita-brigade
https://www.brita.com/wp-content/uploads/Brita_Recyling_Flyer_R1_A.pdf
