TERRACYCLE FOR SAY!
updated November 26, 2023

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You are welcome to leave many items, most of which are not allowed in Somerville's curbside recycling, on my Davis Square porch for me to ship to Terracycle for recycling and, in doing so, get a little money for Somerville Arts for Youth, Inc. But, please always check this page first, as Terracycle occasionally discontinues or changes programs!

Also, no wish-cycling! Please only leave things on my porch if they are listed below, not just because they can’t go into curbside recycling and/or are similar to things I collect.

And, of course, please remember to reduce (Grainmaker has reusable containers for take-out, and some deodorants are now available in plastic-free containers), reuse (some of those black take-out containers are being used for food storage in our community fridges.), and curbside recycle (more information in the “Other Recycling Resources” towards the bottom of this page).

 

 

yellow highlight = new program

green highlight = extra bonus points if you drop off before Dec. 15

blue highlight = won’t get bonus points unless dropped off before Dec. 15

red highlight = discontinued program (do not leave on my porch!)

 

I registered for programs which take ALL BRANDS of the following items (if an item is crossed out and is listed as discontinued, please do not leave it on my porch):

·         phone cases

·         deodorant containers & caps

·         toothpaste tubes & caps

·         floss containers

·         toothbrushes

·         toothbrush outer packaging

·         mouthwash bottles & caps

·         hair tools and appliances (including hair dryers, curling irons, and styling irons)

·         used, clean socks (not tights or pantyhose), please only include those that are not in good enough condition to be donated

·         all squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps

·         DISCONTINUED SOON (drop off before Dec. 15): food storage containers such as those made by Rubbermaid, Ziploc, Tupperware, Pyrex, and Anchor (not containers bought at the supermarket with food/beverages already in them)

·         DISCONTINUED SOON (drop off before Dec. 15): rigid black plastic takeout containers (not plant pots) with any clear lids removed (please only black because those can’t go in curbside recycling)

·         DISCONTINUED, do not leave on my porch, but you can recycle some of this through Pact (boxes at many retailers) or at Nordstrom stores: haircare and skincare packaging

·         DISCONTINUED, do not leave on my porch, but you can recycle some of this at some Staples stores: empty/dried out pens, markers, mechanical pencils, glue sticks, watercolor sets, and packaging from writing instruments

·         DISCONTINUED, do not leave on my porch: cough and sore throat drop packaging

·         DISCONTINUED, do not leave on my porch: cookware, bakeware, and cutlery

 

 I also registered for programs which only accept THEIR OWN BRANDS:

·         amika hair care packaging

·         ARM & HAMMER plastic pouches and toothpaste tubes

·         Aussie packaging, including Aussie shampoo and conditioner bottles, flexible plastic packaging such as color packets, flexible plastic tubes, and complex closures [Most Aussie containers can go in curbside recycling, but the pumps cannot. Feel free to leave all Aussie packaging on my porch so I know what the pumps came from, and I will then put the bottles out with my curbside recycling and send the pumps to Teracycle.]

·         Babybel product packaging, such as cellophane, tag, net, metal clasps, wax, plastic wrappers and pouches

·         BuzzBallz and BuzzTallz rigid plastic and aluminum containers, flexible plastic overwraps

·         DISCONTINUED: Barilla packaging

·         BLACK + DECKER home appliances and tools

·         Bostitch tools

·         Brita dispensers, pitchers, bottles, filters, and plastic filter packaging

·         Burt’s Bees personal care, beauty care, and lip care packaging

·         Chesapeake Bay Candle containers and lids (candle wax should be removed), room spray 1.5 ounces and under

·         Cortizone-10 product packaging including tubes, dark plastic bottles, tubs, sticks, pumps and caps

·         CRAFTSMAN tools

·         DEWALT tools

·         Diva silicone menstrual cups and wipes packaging

·         Dunkin’ flexible ground and whole bean coffee bags

·         eos (not EO Essentials) lip, lotion, and shave packaging

·         Funsicle inflatable pools and floats

·         Garnier skincare and haircare product containers

·         Gerber baby food packaging and small and large hook Gerber baby clothing hangers.

·         Gold Bond aerosol spray cans and product packaging including tubes, dark plastic bottles, tubs, sticks, pumps and caps

·         Good Chemistry perfume packaging

·         good2grow character tops

·         IRWIN tools

·         LeapFrog electronic learning devices and electronic toys

·         LENOX tools

·         LILYSILK non-donatable textiles

·         DISCONTINUED: L.O.L. Surprise! packaging

·         Lundberg Family Farms flexible packaging

·         MAC Tools

·         Off The Eaten Path commercially-compostable snack bags

·         OxiClean plastic pouches

·         Pantene non-aerosol packaging including caps, lids and tubes [Most Pantene bottles can go in curbside recycling, but feel free to leave all Pantene packaging on my porch so I know what the caps and lids came from. I will then put the bottles out with my curbside recycling and send the caps and lids to Teracycle.]

·         Paula’s Choice Skincare packaging

·         PopSockets products and packaging

·         PORTER-CABLE tools

·         Schwarzkopf empty aerosol containers, hair care and hair color jars, lids, bottles, closures, tubes, pumps, and caps made from plastics and flexible or rigid aluminum

·         Selsun Blue packaging including tubes, dark plastic bottles, tubs, sticks, pumps and caps

·         ShiKai empty packaging

·         STANLEY tools

·         Supergoop! Packaging (Bottles can typically go in curbside recycling; just let me know if you are dropping off pumps that are Supergoop! brand. The following products are currently not eligible to be recycled: PLAY Body Mousse SPF 50, PLAY Antioxidant Body Mist SPF 30/50, PLAY 100% Mineral Body Mist SPF 30/50.)

·         Swiffer used wet or dry refills (please make sure they are dry before you drop them off at my house)

·         VTech electronic learning devices and electronic toys

·         WELEDA personal care packaging

·         WoodWick glass containers (candle wax should be removed)

·         Yankee Candle glass containers (candle wax should be removed), auto air fresheners and refills, Sidekicks, room spray 1.5 ounces and under, and ScentPlug refills

 

Other Recycling Resources

·         The Reyclopedia and the FAQ at https://recyclesmartma.org/ are great resources for information on curbside recycling. What is accepted does change! For example, milk cartons used to be accepted but no longer are, and pizza cartons are now accepted but didn’t used to be.

·         Many “beauty” products can be recycled through Pact (boxes at many retailers) or at Nordstrom stores

·         Ink cartridges, many tech products, and some types of writing instruments can be dropped off for recycling through Terracycle at some Staples stores.

·         All brands of pet food and treat bags can be dropped off for recycling through Terracycle at Pet Supplies Plus stores

Misc.

·         Although I have never had any Gerber stuff to ship, being registered as a public drop-off spot for that collection entered in a raffle for $50 worth of Gerber food – which I won! The items were given to the Somerville Homeless Coalition.