Recycle Those Brita Filters!

You can now recycle Brita pitcher filters. It was announced last November that beginning on January 12.2009, Preserve will be taking the filters for recycling into toothbrushes, cutting boards and cups for use in its 100% recyclable personal care, kitchen, and tableware products.

Preserve’s Gimme 5 Program offers an environmentally friendly recycling infrastructure for No. 5 polypropylene plastic. No. 5 plastic is used in a wide range of products such as food storage containers and yogurt containers, and is a primary material in Brita pitcher filters. However, No. 5 plastic is not accepted for recycling by most municipal collection programs. The Preserve Gimme 5 Program provides consumers a way to return No. 5 plastics for recycling. — the brita site

Brita filters can be recycled in two ways:

Select Whole Foods Markets are accepting Brita filters – and other No. 5 plastics like yogurt containers – for recycling. Check with your local store to see if they are participating in the program. You can also look on the Preserve Recycling site to find a recycling location near year.

You can mail your Brita filter by wrapping it a plastic bag and placing it in a used box (plastic bag and box will also be recycled) to: Preserve Gimme 5, 823 NYS Rte 13 Cortland, NY 13045

Before mailing, dry the filter by shaking off excess water and setting it in a dry place for at least three days.

Don’t forget to write a note to the Clorox people so they know we appreciate their effort in partnering with Preserve. If you have a Whole Foods in your area, and they are not yet accepting Brita filters and No. 5 plastics, let them know you’d like to see this program implemented in your city.