How To Properly Dispose Of Your Bamboo Toothbrush?

Have you been using your bamboo toothbrush for more than two months now? Or maybe you are thinking of switching to a new one because your current toothbrush is about to wear out and become a breeding ground for bacteria?

Fun Fact: To ensure that your toothbrush can maximize how much bacteria it can remove, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed or matted.

But wait, what do you plan to do with your old bamboo toothbrush? Please don't tell me you are going to throw it in the trash can when you're finished using it.

While using a bamboo toothbrush is great for the environment, and we acknowledge your effort for making a conscious attempt to become more eco-friendly. However, it won't be helping the environment as much as it should if you don't know how to properly dispose of it.

Despite being made from natural materials and being biodegradable, many people are still unsure of how to dispose of their bamboo toothbrush once it reaches the end of its life cycle. That's why in this blog post, I'll guide you through a step-by-step process on how to properly dispose of your bamboo toothbrush to maximize its impact on helping the environment!

Why You Don't Want To Throw Your Bamboo Toothbrush In The Trash?

Yes, you can do that, and the bamboo toothbrush will break down naturally, unlike plastic toothbrushes that will take hundreds of years to decompose. However, to further maximize their impact on helping the environment, it's best to avoid throwing away your bamboo toothbrush in the trash.

Fun Fact: Depending on the conditions in which they are disposed of. According to Statista, plastic toothbrushes can take up to an estimated 500 years to decompose.

Before we talk about the correct disposal methods, let's first understand what bamboo toothbrushes are made of. The handle of your bamboo toothbrush are typically made from 100% natural bamboo wood, and the bristles are usually Nylon. By throwing both of them away, you miss a golden opportunity to unleash their full eco-friendly potential.

Let me explain: Nylon is recyclable, so if you remove the nylon bristles from the bamboo toothbrush, you can recycle them. And since the handle itself is made from bamboo, a natural material, you can compost it and turn it into nutrient-rich soil!

Or if your local recycling program accepts bamboo, you can recycle the entire toothbrush, but if your local recycling program doesn't accept bamboo, you have to compost the handle separately. (No need to waste these valuable resources by throwing them in the trash can)

Summary: Simply throwing your bamboo toothbrush in the trash won't do as much for the environment as it should. To maximize its eco-friendly benefits, you first need to separate the Nylon bristles (recyclable) from the bamboo handle (compostable). Then, depending on your local recycling program's policies, you can recycle both parts or compost the handle separately.

Why Use Nylon Bristles On Bamboo Toothbrush?

Have you ever wondered why bamboo toothbrushes, all about being eco-friendly, have nylon bristles?

The reason: Nylon is used as toothbrush bristles in about 99% of all toothbrushes in the market right now (including plastic and bamboo toothbrush) because they are stronger, more durable, and more effective at cleaning your teeth than plant-based bristles.

Some companies do offer bamboo toothbrushes with plant-based bristles, while others offer animal hair bristles such as pig or horse hair for their bamboo toothbrush.

But seriously, do you really want to use pig hair to brush your teeth?

We consulted with many dental experts about the use of plant-based, and animal hair toothbrush bristle before making our Ecopify bamboo toothbrush bristle Nylon, and here's why:

Many dental experts have concluded that plant-based bristle and animal hair bristle did not provide the cleaning capabilities as Nylon bristle would have. Animal hair and plant-based bristle also did not last long enough compared to Nylon bristle.

In addition, nylon bristles are typically softer and more flexible, making them less likely to cause damage to your teeth and gums. (This can be important for people with sensitive teeth or gums)

Summary: Plant-based bristle and animal-hair bristle did not provide the cleaning capabilities as Nylon bristle would have, and they also did not last long enough compared to Nylon bristles.

Why Should You Switch To Using Bamboo Toothbrush

Fun Fact: Every year in the United States alone, we throw away 50 million pounds of plastic waste from plastic toothbrushes. And that doesn't even include all the packaging!

The problem and the main reason why you want to use a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic toothbrush is the solid plastic handle.

While the handle of most plastic toothbrush are made from a bad mix of plastic materials that combine elements of rubber, crude oil, and petroleum. The handle of bamboo toothbrushes is made entirely from Natural Bamboo Wood.

Not only that, but the packaging of most bamboo toothbrushes (especially Ecopify Bamboo Toothbrush) is made from eco-friendly and 100% recyclable material.

Benefits Of Using Bamboo Toothbrush:

• 100% natural bamboo wood handle. No BPA or any harmful chemicals.
• Eco-friendly packaging.
• Eliminates unnecessary plastic waste.
• Prevent plastic from leaching into your mouth.
• Affordable

(Check out this blog post for more benefits of using bamboo toothbrushes: 7 Reasons Why You Should Buy Bamboo Toothbrush)

Another Fun Fact: According to Guinness World Records, bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world and can regrow quickly after being cut down. This makes it a much more eco-friendly material than plastic.

Summary: Bamboo toothbrushes are made from sustainable and biodegradable materials, which means that they won't contribute to landfill waste or ocean pollution. Additionally, switching to a bamboo toothbrush offers numerous benefits for both your own health and the environment.

Step-By-Step How To Properly Dispose Of Your Bamboo Toothbrush

To ensure that your bamboo toothbrush is properly disposed of, follow these best practices:

Step 1. Remove The Toothbrush Bristles: Get a tweezer or a plier and start removing the bristles by pulling the bristles out of the head. (Or alternatively, break the head containing the bristles off the toothbrush)

As we just learned, simply throwing your bamboo toothbrush in the trash won't do as much for the environment as it should. To maximize its eco-friendly benefits, you first need to separate the Nylon bristles (recyclable) from the bamboo handle (compostable).

So grab a tweezer or a plier and gently grip a few bristles at a time near the base where they meet the handle. Twist and pull to remove the bristles in small sections.

Step 2. Recycle The Bristle: The bristles should go into a plastic recycling bin. There's probably less than 1g of plastic, but every little helps.

Nylon is recyclable, but first check your local recycling guidelines to see if they accept nylon items. If not, you can throw them away with your regular trash.

I recommend you put all the small bristles into a plastic water bottle to keep all the plastic waste tight in one place ready to be correctly recycled.

Step 3. Dispose Of The Bamboo Handle: Simply place your bamboo toothbrush handle in the compost bin as you would with any other biodegradable item.

The bamboo handle will breaks down naturally in the environment, even in the landfill. But I recommend you to put the bamboo handle in your home composting bin or throw it into your garden (if you have one).

Alternatively, you can also find a commercial compost facility near you, if you don’t have a home composting system set up.

Extra Step. Dispose Of The Packaging: The packaging are always and should be 100% recyclable or compostable. You can do something creative with it or throw it in your recycling or compost bin, depending on the material.

For Ecopify bamboo toothbrushes, the packaging boxes are both recyclable and compostable.

Also, here are more creative ideas to unleash on your used bamboo toothbrush to maximize its impact on helping the environment!

Frequently Asked Questions Relate To This Blog

Question #1: What is the best way to dispose of my bamboo toothbrush?

Answer: Bamboo is a natural material that can break down naturally in a compost bin, so the best way to dispose of your bamboo toothbrush is to compost it. Just remember to remove the nylon bristles first.

Question #2: Can I recycle my bamboo toothbrush?

Answer: It depends! Some places do accept bamboo toothbrushes in their recycling programs, however, it is important to check with your local recycling program first. If they don't accept bamboo toothbrushes, then you have to compost them.

Question #3: How often should I replace my toothbrush?

Answer: The American Dental Association recommends you to replace your toothbrush every three months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed or worn.

(If you want a more detailed answer, check out this blog post: How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?)