Water filters are necessary for most individuals, as they aid in eliminating numerous impurities from the water you consume. And soaring high in popularity are the Brita water filters, thanks to their effectiveness in making your drinking water clean.
But then, even though they do a wonderful job, no water filter lasts forever, and that includes our trusty Brita friends.
In fact, if you look closely at the manufacturer’s instructions, you will notice that they recommend changing the filters every other month. But how about the recyclability aspect — can you recycle Brita water filters?
Well, this article has all the answers to your many questions on whether you can recycle Brita filters. We’ll also give you handy tips for ensuring the proper use and disposal of your Brita filters, so keep following!
Are Brita Water Filters Recyclable?
Yes, you can recycle your Brita water filters. The company that produces your Brita water filters works alongside TerraCycle, a company that focuses on recycling plastic products that seem challenging to reprocess, to recycle your Brita water filters.
You see, with the increasing awareness of the adverse effects plastic is causing on our planet, it’s natural to wonder whether you can recycle your Brita water filters. And thankfully, that’s a possibility.
But then, just before you add this material into your recycling bin, there’s a caveat! The plastic used in these water filters, particularly the type ‘5’ plastic, isn’t accepted at all recycling centers.
Plus, filters carry with them a lot of contaminants, posing a threat of contaminating other recyclable materials potentially damaging some of them. All these problems make it challenging to recycle plastic water filters.
But with the producer now working with TerraCycle, you can now recycle your Brita water filters to minimize their overall impact on the environment. In fact, as an environmentalist, you should always consider recycling your old Brita water filter when you get a new one.
Wondering how you can do it?
Don’t worry; we’ve got all that in the next section!
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 them. You can either send them 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.
It’s worth noting that attempting to hand-dry the filter is not advisable. Apart from the challenge of reaching inside the filter, it’s also unsafe. The filter contains various contaminants that are not safe for direct contact.
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, keep them away from dirt. Place your Brita filter in a plastic bag. If recycling more than one filter, put them in separate 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 out 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 small 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, and the process is almost as easy as recycling with TerraCycle.
You can follow the following steps when recycling with another company.
1. 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 helpful when you want to contact a recycling plant.
2. 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.
3. 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, be sure to provide them with all information.
4. 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?
Brita filters aren’t entirely biodegradable. Brita filters are made from polypropylene, a material produced by processing petrochemicals. That means these filters are petroleum-based, meaning they won’t biodegrade entirely like other plastics made from petroleum products.
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? Here are the options for disposal.
1. Recycle
The safest, cheapest, and 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 obtained from this process can be helpful 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 it 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?
Apart from Brita filters and bottles, we’ve got several Brita products that you can recycle. They include:
- 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
