updated July
12, 2026
|
June 2021 Payment to Somerville Arts for
Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in April 2021 |
$25 |
|
January 2022 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in October 2021 |
$50 |
|
June 2022 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in April 2022 |
$45 |
|
January 2023 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in October 2022 |
$80 |
|
June 2023 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in April 2023 |
$130 |
|
January 2024 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in October 2023 |
$140 |
|
June 2024 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in April 2024 |
$125 |
|
January 2025 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in October 2024 |
$105 |
|
June 2025 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in April 2025 |
$104 |
|
January 2026 Payment to Somerville
Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in October 2025 |
$96 |
|
June 2026 Payment to
Somerville Arts for Youth! from TerraCycle Points Redeemed in April 2026 |
$105 |
|
TOTAL |
$1,005 |
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. Please remember the following:
1.
Always check this page first, as TerraCycle occasionally discontinues or
changes programs!
2.
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.
3.
Reduce
and reuse as much as possible, rather than recycling.
4.
If
you are leaving items that are only acceptable when they are from certain
brands (eg pumps), please leave a note telling me what
brand they are, message me that information, or just leave the entire empty
product (eg bottle with pump) and I’ll put the part
that can go in curbside recycling (eg plastic bottle
without the pump) out with my house’s recycling.
5.
Blue
highlighted programs are new. Yellow highlighted items do not usually earn points, but you are
still welcome to leave them on my porch for recycling. Green highlighted items are part of
limited-time promotions so please drop off by August 16th. Red highlighted items are from
programs being discontinued so please drop off by August 16th.
6.
Items
on this page are now categorized: Beauty & Personal Care,
Oral
Care, Medication, Household,
Food & Beverage, Nutritional
Supplements, Pets, Clothing, Tools, Toys, and Miscellaneous.
Plus, there are Other Recycling Resources towards the
bottom of the page.
·
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.]
·
Beekman 1802 packaging
·
Burt’s Bees
personal care, beauty care, and lip care packaging
·
eos
(not EO Essentials) lip, lotion, and shave packaging
·
Gold Bond aerosol spray cans and product packaging including tubes, dark
plastic bottles, tubs, sticks, pumps and caps
·
Head & Shoulders haircare
packaging such as tubes, caps, pumps, and lids [Head
& Shoulders bottles can go in curbside recycling, but feel free to leave
them on my porch so I know what the other stuff came from. I will put the
bottles out with my curbside recycling and ship the tubes, caps, pumps, and
lids to Teracycle.]
·
Herbal
Essences haircare packaging such as tubes,
flexible plastic, caps, spray caps, and pumps [Herbal
Essences bottles can go in curbside recycling, but feel free to leave them on my
porch so I know what the other stuff came from. I will put the bottles out with
my curbside recycling and ship the tubes, caps, pumps, and flexible plastic to
Teracycle.]
·
innisfree skincare
packaging
·
Josie Maran skin
and body care packaging
·
Mielle haircare packaging
·
Murad
bottles, pumps, jars, lids, tubes, and caps
·
Pantene non-aerosol packaging including caps, lids, pumps, 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 ship the other items to Terracycle.]
·
Schick disposable razors and plastic packaging
·
Selsun Blue
packaging including tubes, dark plastic bottles, tubs, sticks, pumps and caps
·
Skintimate disposable razors and plastic packaging
·
Tom’s of Maine product packaging
that is not accepted in curbside recycling (eg
deodorant containers)
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT LEAVE
ON MY PORCH: all brands of deodorant containers unless
listed above (consider plastic-free deodorant containers), all brands of
haircare and skincare packaging unless listed above (some
of this can be recycled through Pact at many stores), all brands of hair tools and appliances, amika, Better Natured, Depend, dermologica,
Diva, Garnier, Good Chemistry, Goodnites,
Huggies, Kate Somerville, Paula’s Choice
Skincare, Poise, Pull-Ups, Schwarzkopf, ShiKai, Supergoop!,
U by Kotex, Weleda, WEN
·
all brands of used of empty
toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes (not electric/battery-operated
or their parts), toothpaste cartons, toothbrush outer packaging, and floss
containers
·
ARM & HAMMER toothpaste packaging
·
Colgate Wisp mini-brushes and mini-brush packaging
·
ACT plastic film from mouthwash caps
·
Tom’s of Maine mouthwash bottles and
caps, toothpaste tubes and caps, and toothbrushes
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT
LEAVE ON MY PORCH: electric toothbrushes, battery-operated toothbrushes, and/or
their parts [Although the program for Crest, Oral-B, and Fixodent
has been discontinued, those brands can still be left on my porch to be
included in an all-brand collection.]
· Allegra “hard-to-recycle” packaging such as bottles that are smaller than a credit card so shouldn’t go in curbside recycling, blister packs
· Arthritis Hot “hard-to-recycle” packaging such as tubes and caps
· Aspercreme “hard-to-recycle” packaging such aerosol cans, tubes, and caps
·
Capzasin “hard-to-recycle”
packaging such as roll-ons and caps
· Cortizone-10 product packaging including tubes, dark plastic bottles, tubs, sticks, pumps and caps
· Dulcolax “hard-to-recycle” packaging such as bottles that are smaller than a credit card so shouldn’t go in curbside recycling, blister packs, flexible pouches
· Gold Bond aerosol spray cans and product packaging including tubes, dark plastic bottles, tubs, sticks, pumps, and caps
· Icy Hot “hard-to-recycle” packaging such as aerosol spray cans, tubes, and caps
· Nasacort “hard-to-recycle” packaging
·
Sportscreme “hard-to-recycle” packaging such as tubes and caps
·
Unisom “hard-to-recycle” packaging such as blister packs
·
Xyzal “hard-to-recycle”
packaging such as bottles that are smaller than a credit card so shouldn’t go
in curbside recycling, blister packs
·
Zantac “hard-to-recycle” packaging such as
bottles that are smaller than a credit card so shouldn’t go in curbside
recycling, blister packs
·
all brands of air and home care trigger heads (all styles of trigger heads
but not pumps), bottles that can’t go in curbside recycling, lids, plugs, and
cartridges [NO AEROSOLS]
·
ARM
& HAMMER plastic pouches
·
Brita dispensers, pitchers,
bottles, filters, and plastic filter packaging
·
Febreze aerosol
containers (must be 1 liter or less, empty, and have lids/tops/caps attached)
·
Mr. Clean
Deep Cleaning Mist bottles and trigger heads
·
OxiClean plastic pouches
·
Swiffer used wet or dry refills (please make sure they are dry before
you drop them off at my house)
·
Ziploc Endurables silicone pouches and
containers
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT LEAVE
ON MY PORCH: Cottonelle, Downy, Dreft,
Gain, NBD., Scott, SodaStream, Tide, Viva
·
all brands of squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps
·
all brands of empty sauce (eg ketchup and soy
sauce from take-out) packets, cups (dipping sauces), coffee creamer pods, and
souffle cups that hold less than 2 ounces
·
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
·
Cambio Roasters coffee pods
·
Café La Llavae Espresso coffee bags and pods
·
Cerebelly flexible plastic
pouches [currently usually included in shipments of all brands of squeezable
snack plastic pouches and caps]
·
Don Francisco
coffee bags and pods
·
Jose’s Gourmet
coffee packaging
·
Lundberg
Family Farms flexible packaging
·
MacroBar wrappers
·
Mountain
House flexible plastic pouches
·
NOW Real Food
plastic packaging
·
Peterson Farms Treats
applesauce pouches [currently usually included in collection that accepts all
brands of squeezable snack plastic pouches and caps]
·
Serenity Kids flexible plastic packaging
·
Takis Snacks, Rolled Tortilla Chips, STIX™, POP!,
Waves, Kettlez, and Crisps flexible plastic bags and
canisters
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT LEAVE
ON MY PORCH: Barilla, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Dunkin’, Entenmann’s, Evolve,
Gatorade/G Endurance, good2grow, Late July Snacks, Marinela, Off The Eaten
Path, Powerade Sports Freezer Bars, Muscle Milk, Propel, Wine Connoisseur [Although
programs for North Coast apple sauce pouches and Gerber baby food pouches have
been discontinued, they can still be left on my porch to be included in the
collection which takes all brands of squeezable plastic pouches.],
·
Pure
Encapsulations, Douglas Laboratories, Klean Athlete, Genestra Brands, Pharmax, UNDA,
and Wobenzym hard-to-recycle
packaging including plastic scoops, neck
shrinks, droppers, inner seals, pouches/sachets, blister
packs, desiccants, bottle closures, and shipping materials [So
that I know what these items came from, please either leave me note or leave
all of the packaging and I will put whatever qualifies for curbside recycling
out with mine.]
PETS
·
ONLY LEAVE ON MY PORCH
DURING SPECIAL PROMOTIONS, can be recycled at Pet Supplies Plus stores: Halo, I and love and you., Open Farm, Royal Canin, and Wellness
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT LEAVE
ON MY PORCH: Benebone
·
LILYSILK
non-donatable textiles
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT LEAVE
ON MY PORCH: baby & kid clothing,
all brands of socks (please use Somerville’s textile recycling
program)
TOOLS
·
BLACK
+ DECKER home appliances and tools [only earns rewards during special
promotions]
·
Bostitch tools
[only earns rewards
during special promotions]
·
CRAFTSMAN
tools [only earns rewards during special promotions]
·
DEWALT
tools [only earns rewards during special promotions]
·
IRWIN
tools [only earns rewards during special promotions]
·
LENOX tools
[only earns rewards during special promotions]
·
MAC
Tools [only earns rewards during special promotions]
·
PORTER-CABLE
tools [only earns rewards
during special promotions]
·
STANLEY tools
·
Hasbro Hasbro
board games, plush toys, electronic toys and games, action figures,
dolls, plastic/wood/metal toys and games, and any other Hasbro items that can
no longer safely be used, are not in donatable condition, etc. (no batteries,
please)
·
LeapFrog
electronic learning devices and electronic toys (batteries removed, please)
·
Spin Master toys, games, and packaging (everything
at https://www.spinmaster.com/en-US/toys-and-games/
except Kinetic Sand)
·
VTech electronic learning devices and electronic toys
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT LEAVE
ON MY PORCH: Funsicle, L.O.L. Surprise!
·
Liquitex and Winsor & Newton paint tubes and markers
·
DISCONTINUED, DO NOT LEAVE
ON MY PORCH: phone cases; rigid black plastic takeout containers (try
to support restaurants that offer reusable takeout containers such as those
which participate in the Recirclable
program); empty/dried out pens, markers, mechanical pencils,
glue sticks, watercolor sets, and packaging from writing instruments
(some of this can be recycled at Staples stores);
cough and sore throat drop packaging; cookware, bakeware, and cutlery;
Chesapeake Bay Candle; Gerber baby clothing hangers; PopSockets; WoodWick;
Yankee Candle
·
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 for free through Pact (boxes
at many retailers) or at
Nordstrom
stores. And, TerraCycle sells a “Beauty
Products and Packaging Zero Waste Bag”
·
Ink cartridges,
batteries, 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
·
Prescription bottles
are not accepted in our curbside recycling. Below are some options for re-use
or recycling:
o
Cocoplum
accepts #5 red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, RX bottles but not
their lids for recycling to make sunglasses, coasters, and ornaments).
Labels and adhesive should be removed from outside of
bottles, and pill residue should be cleaned out of inside. Donor is responsible
for shipping charges.
o
Matthew 25 Ministries accepts RX and
OTC bottles with and without child-resistant caps, sorted by color and type,
for re-use. Bottles should be clean and dry, with labels and adhesive removed.
Donor is responsible for shipping charges.
o
Ridwell (a
subscription program) accepts RX bottles for recycling (including for use by
Cocoplum). They should be rinsed and dried. It is not necessary to remove the
labels and adhesive, but any identifying information
should be blacked out.
o
Ship
‘n’ Shred has a program where customers can FedEx RX bottles for removal of
personal information and then recycling.
Random TerraCycle Perks
·
In December 2022, I won TerraCycle’s “Gerber Drop-Off Join & Win” raffle. The
Gerber food was given to the Somerville
Homeless Coalition’s food pantry.
·
In December 2024, I won TerraCycle’s “Takis Back-To-School Recycling Challenge”
raffle. The merchandise was given to the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s
engagement center.
A Few Items That Were Collected but Not
Shipped to TerraCycle (reuse before recycling!)
·
A battery cover from a broken VTech
toy was given to somebody who was missing one from a Leapfrog toy. It fit!
·
Two phone cases were given to
somebody who had a phone without a case so was carrying it around in its box!