TerraCycle partners with Procter & Gamble to launch national household recycling program.

Global recycling company TerraCycle has partnered with multinational manufacturer Procter & Gamble to launch Australia’s first national household recycling program for dish care and air care items.

The Dish and Air Care Recycling Program involves converting brands of empty dish care and air care products – including bottles, soft plastics and air fresheners – into sustainable raw materials.

TerraCycle currently operates across 21 countries, converting hard to recycle or non-recyclable waste that is not accepted into kerbside recycling, such as beauty products, toothbrushes and cigarette butts, into valuable new products such as garden beds and playgrounds.

Through the program, Australians can collect and ship all brands of dish care products and air fresheners free-of-charge to TerraCycle, who will shred, wash and melt them down into raw materials to be used as an alternative to virgin plastic.

TerraCycle has also committed to donate two cents per unit of dish and air care packaging to a designated charity, non-profit organisation or school aligned with the program.

Procter & Gamble vice president and managing director Vivek Gupta said P&G expects to see strong support from its retail partners to drive awareness of this program with shoppers.

“P&G is committed to not only designing superior products, but also making a positive difference and encouraging responsible consumption of our brands,” he said.

“We are proud to introduce a solution to make these brands 100 per cent recyclable. We expect to see strong support from our retail partners to drive awareness of this program with shoppers. The good news is, while P&G is investing in the program, this solution is open to all brands of products within these categories.”