A Greener Approach to Dentistry: Inspired by Esme

At Park Street Dental Clinic, we’re always looking for ways to care not only for our patients, but also for the planet. That’s why we were so thrilled when one of our wonderful patients, Esme, approached us recently with a brilliant suggestion: creating a recycling facility specifically for dental care waste.

Dental care products, from toothbrushes to toothpaste tubes and aligners, can generate a lot of hard-to-recycle waste. But with Esme’s insight and enthusiasm, we realised there was a real opportunity to make a difference in our local community.

♻️ From Inspiration to Implementation

Esme, a passionate advocate for sustainability and a professional in the healthcare sector, brought an inspiring idea to our attention:

"Sustainability is becoming a key focus across healthcare, and it’s something I’m really mindful of at home too—my family and I make a conscious effort to reduce waste wherever possible."

"When I began my Invisalign journey at Park Street Dental Clinic, I couldn’t ignore the amount of plastic waste involved—like aligners and their packaging. As a researcher, I started digging into solutions and was thrilled to find that the team here was just as enthusiastic about exploring eco-friendly options."

Together, we investigated a variety of possibilities—from corporate recycling partnerships to innovative reuse methods like 3D printing. That’s when Esme discovered TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box™, designed specifically for oral care waste.

Within days, we had our very own box delivered to the practice!

📦 What Can You Recycle?

Thanks to our new Zero Waste Box™, we now accept a wide range of dental items for recycling, including:

• Used toothbrushes (manual and electric heads)

• Empty toothpaste tubes and caps

• Plastic dental floss containers

• Used aligners and retainers

• Dental picks and packaging

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Instead of throwing these in the bin, you can now bring them to the practice and drop them off for recycling. Every little action helps reduce landfill waste and promotes more sustainable habits in our community.

Learn more about the Zero Waste Box™ here →

💬 A Word From Esme

Within a matter of days, the box had arrived, and I could recycle my aligners - which included everything from the past two years of treatment. It was a weight off my mind to know they weren’t just being put in the bin.

It’s so reassuring to know that this type of waste doesn’t have to go to landfill anymore. I believe that we all have a responsibility to do what we can and to have this kind of support from my local dental practice is amazing."

🌎 Doing Our Part, Together

Sustainability in dentistry is still an emerging field, but through initiatives like this, we can help make eco-friendly dental care more accessible to everyone and more seamlessly integrated into everyday practice. We’re incredibly grateful to Esme for helping spark this positive change, and we hope it inspires others to consider how we can all reduce waste in our daily routines -both at home and in healthcare.

If you have any questions about what can be recycled or would like to bring your own items in, just give us a call or pop in and ask!