Let’s talk trash.

Those tiny beauty tubes and itty bitty bottles? They’re headed for the landfill and our oceans. You can help keep millions of beauty empties out of the environment by properly discarding them through Pact’s collection programs.

Any brand can go in the Pact bin, as long as it fits Pact's collection guidelines.

Any brand can go in the Pact bin, as long as it fits Pact's collection guidelines.

We want your empties

  • Clean it out

    When you’ve finished your favorite products, dump any unused goop then rinse and clean the packages. Make sure they’re truly clean and empty — packages with product left inside get incinerated because they can’t be properly recycled!

    CLEANING GUIDE

  • Discard it properly

    Check out the Pact’s Collection Guidelines to find out where your finished beauty and wellness packaging goes — either to Pact, to curbside recycling, or in the trash. Find a bin near you or mail back your Pact-accepted clean empties.

    COLLECTION GUIDELINES

  • Give it new life

    Once you’ve discarded your empties, Pact handles the rest. We aim to find the highest and best use for material we collect, with the ultimate goal of getting the material back into new beauty packaging whenever possible.

    END-OF-LIFE HIERARCHY

Pact’s packaging
collection guidelines

All of Pact’s collection programs are brand-agnostic, meaning you can discard any of your favorite beauty and wellness empties – regardless of brand – in any Pact drop-off bin or through any mail-back program.

 

  • All of the below is Pact-accepted packaging, as long as it’s clean and empty*:

    • Plastic bottles + jars smaller than a than a fist

    • Plastic + aluminum squeezable tubes

    • Pouches

    • Ceramic + porcelain containers

    • Colored glass bottles + jars

    • Caps + closures

    • Pumps + dispensers

    • Droppers + applicators

    • Compacts + palettes

    • Lipstick / lip gloss tubes + applicators

    • Mascara tubes + wands

    • Plastic pencil components for eye/lip liner + brow pencils

    • Toothpaste tubes + dental floss containers

    • Silicone containers

    • Supplement bottles

    Our collection guidelines will continue to evolve as we gain more insight from our community and recycling partners into local recycling capabilities. It is always ideal to check with your local recycling centers for the most accurate information on curbside recyclable items in your area.

  • All packaging must be clean and empty to be curbside recycled.

    • Plastic containers #1, 2 and 5 when larger than a fist

    • Stainless steel or aluminum containers

    • Clear or frosted glass jars and bottles

    • Cardboard & paper

    • Plastic containers #3, #4, #6 and #7 larger than a fist

    • Broken glass

    • Dental floss

    • Aerosol cans*

    • Sponges + brushes

    • Single-use wipes

    • Plastic + foil safety seals

    • Plastic bag + wrappers

    • Plastic with foil/metal inlay

    • Nail polish + remover*

    • Toothbrushes

    *Products considered hazardous materials such as aerosol products, nail polish and nail polish remover should be disposed through proper hazmat disposal. Check for your location's hazmat disposal options.

  • Pact works to find the highest and best use for the material we collect. We prioritize the following from best to least ideal outcome:

    -Upcycled (mechanically recycled into another product of equal or greater value e.g. new packaging)

    -Downcycled (mechanically recycled into another product of lesser value e.g. warehouse pallets, flowerpots)

    -Molecularly recycled (e.g reduced to chemical monomers that can then be used to build something else)

    -Waste-to-energy (packaging that cannot be used in any other way is burned for electricity).

    Learn more here.

  • Follow our Packaging Drop-Off Guide for a step-by-step process to determine what goes in the bin and what to do with your packaging that doesn’t.

The most sustainable way for Pact to process your hard-to-recycle beauty empties is through our In-Store Collection Program.

No Pact Bin near you? You can mail back your clean empties to Pact’s collection facility.

The most sustainable way for Pact to process your hard-to-recycle beauty empties is through our In-Store Collection Program. No Pact Bin near you? You can mail back your clean empties to Pact’s collection facility.

  • Find a drop-off bin.

    The most sustainable way to get your empties to Pact is to drop them off at one of our 3,300 bin locations. Just clean your package, find your closest location, and toss your Pact-accepted empties into one of our bins. We'll do the rest.

    FIND A PACT BIN

  • Can't find a bin near you?

    We offer a mail-back collection program for US and Canadian customers who don’t have access to a Pact bin. Our goal is to keep as much beauty packaging out of landfill as possible. If you have them, we’ll take them.

    MAIL BACK EMPTIES

Most beauty and wellness packaging is not currently recycled.

So much (so much!) beauty and wellness packaging cannot be recycled through curbside recycling programs — it’s often too small, made of mixed materials, too flexible, or made of materials with no end market. A majority of packaging is also made from virgin plastic, which can have negative effects on the environment. Pact is working to close the loop on this hard-to-recycle beauty packaging through our collection programs. And you can help!