Recycle Brita water filter cartridges
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Ever wondered what to do with your old water filter cartridges? BRITA is the only water filter brand to recycle its cartridges. The cartridges are separated into their component parts and recycled, ensuring a traceable, renewable life cycle.
You used to be able to post 3 cartridges to Brita for free, but Charlotte Gibson, marketing manager of Brita contacted me to say the Freepost return scheme is no longer operational. Apparently, it wasn’t a sustainable or energy efficient solution. Instead they rely on the 2000 or so recycling bins found in stores across the UK.
Find your nearest retail store by entering your postcode into their online Recycling locator.
Over in the US, Brita are working with Preserve, who make 100% recycled household consumer goods such as toothbrushes, cups and cutting boards.
To recycle your Brita water filter cartridges in the US, drop them off at participating Whole Foods Market stores or mail them direct via ground shipping to:
Preserve Gimme 5,
823 NYS Rte 13,
Cortland,
NY 13045
If you’re in Canada and want to recycle your Brita water filter cartridges, mail them via ground shipping to:
Brita Canada Corporation
PO Box 140 STN LCD Malton
Mississauga, ON
L4T 9Z9
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I have been doing this for years since I first bought my filterjug and actually read the leaflet which came with it.
The one thing I was told when i phoned up to check on where to send them was that they prefer if packages contain 3 cartridges as it helps with the postage costings ( and as it is FREEPOST) who am I to argue.
@maisie dalziel: Thanks for the tip about sending 3 at at time, Maisie. I’ll adjust the text of the article, to tell people 🙂 It makes sense and I should have thought of it.
I’ve been driving round with several Brita cartridges tucked in my boot since the recycling bin in Sainsburys went awol… however, I did spot a bin in Robert Dyas in Cheltenham, so I must remember to drag them out next time I have the car in town!
I switched about nine months ago, when I found out Brita cartridges could be recycled 🙂
@Kris: Hi Kris; long time no see! Great to have you back on the site again; even if it’s only for a moment 🙂 Glad you’re keeping your finger on the recycling bin pulse!
How is everything else in your world?
There’s also a box in Sainsbury’s and chances are if they have one, Tesco will too.
I’ve seen Brita recycling in Robert Dyas but also understand that Argos and Cargo recycle them. Places that you buy them also collect them. Great stuff. There is a recycling locator for them in the article which confirms my understanding.
Does anyone know who I can contact in South Africa about recycling Britta cartridges?
@Anthony Walter: Hello Anthony, here is the website; there is nothing I can see about recycling, but it would be worth contacting them to find out. Good luck!
Hi Mrs Green, are you still committed to reduce waist? They used to recycle it in Belgium too, but they have stopped last year, and I really wonder what I can do to have them recycled; I have been ‘saving’ them since. Can you help? Do you knwo about recyclingchannels in Europe/Belgium for Brita?
Hi Paul, I haven’t used a filter for a long time, but over here in the UK there are collection points in various shops – usually the shops that sell the filters. The best thing would be for you to contact Brita direct and speak to one of their advisors. It seems strange that a leading brand would stop recycling services in Belgium. I have a busy FaceBook group, so I’ll ask on there for you and see if anyone knows what to do with them 🙂
Here’s some more information. Apparently you can recycle the filters: http://www.brita.be/brita/fr-be/cms/recycling_service.grid
All you have to do is collect six Maxtra or Classic filters, call their toll-free number, then they’ll send you a return label and you can return your filters free of charge for recycling. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that information is still up to date and relevant!