The good news: The Brita water filter recycling program‘s now in effect! (via Fake Plastic Fish)
The bad news: None of the drop-off locations for used Brita filters are anywhere near Los Angeles.
Basically, Brita filter recycling was added to the Preserve Gimme 5 program, which takes back and recycles number 5 plastics, turning yogurt containers and old toothbrushes into new Preserve products ranging from razors to measuring cups.
The plastic part of Brita filters are made with number 5 plastic; that’s the part Preserve will recycle. The fate of the stuff encased in the plastic is still unclear. The Preserve Gimme 5 program’s website says what Brita said last year: “The filter ingredients … will be regenerated for alternative use or converted into energy” — a very vague description indeed.
At that time, I asked for more details, and basically learned that Brita and Preserve don’t know what their opaque marketing speak means either. I was told that “the details about the internal carbon and ion exchange resin are a little vague because Brita and Preserve are still working toward an exact solution…. Testing for the best method is in progress and we will have more information to announce early next year.” I’ll keep waiting.
Gimme 5 recycling bins are at a number of Whole Foods around the country — but not in any of the Whole Foods in the L.A. area. That means we have to mail in the filter — which’ll be both less convenient and less efficient from a carbon footprint standpoint, since people mailing in one (or several) filters at a time will mean a lot more packing materials and shipping emissions than sending in a collected lot.
So try to at least collect a few filters before sending them in. Once you’ve amassed several, let the filters dry out for a few days, wrap them in a plastic bag, then mail it via ground shipping to Preserve Gimme 5, 823 NYS Rte 13 Cortland, NY 13045.
Images via preserveproducts.com
Another suggestion would be for groups to collect Brita filters and send them all at once. I hope people will do this instead of sending them individually. And I too an waiting and interested to find out what they will do with the carbon.
Comment by Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish — February 14, 2009 @ 12:22 am
I would LOVE for more stores to collect #5 plastic. I buy the large yogurt containers for less waste and can only use so many water containers when I paint.
Comment by Jamie — February 14, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Thanks Siel,
I literally have had an old Brita filter on my desk for a couple of weeks wondering where I could recycle it. Now I know I drop it off at my neighborhood store.
Comment by Rodney North — February 16, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
It’s weird that over a year later there are still no locations in L.A. – what’s up with that?
Comment by Eco-Vegan Gal — May 8, 2010 @ 1:44 am
More of us need to ask for them. Have you, Eco-Vegan Gal?
Comment by Siel — June 19, 2010 @ 3:51 pm