Recyclable toothbrush launched in US

Wednesday, September 8,1999 6:53 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)- Most American homes and offices now have bins for recycling cans, bottles, and paper. A Massachusetts company wants to add one more item to the recycling list: its brand of toothbrushes.

Toothbrushes account for over 50 million pounds of plastic waste each year in the United States, according to the company, Recycline, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts (http://www.recycline.com/). And that is if people only replace their brushes twice a year, not the four times a year recommended by the American Dental Association. But Recycline's new toothbrush, called the Preserve, has a handle made from 100% recycled polypropylene plastic.

In a statement, the company stresses that although it is committed to using recycled materials, the nylon bristles of the toothbrush are not derived from recycled materials.

Preserve toothbrushes come with a postage-paid envelope so consumers can send back the used toothbrush and its packaging. The toothbrush is then recycled into plastic lumber.

According to the company, ``the Preserve is the only toothbrush available at market that uses recycled plastics in its handle.''

``As Americans take action to improve their oral hygiene, toothbrushes will become more of a consumable,'' said Eric Hudson, president of Recycline, in a statement, adding that ''combining the benefits of recycling with the product makes more and more sense.''

Preserve comes in soft, medium and firm textures. Priced at $3.79, the toothbrush is available at supermarkets and natural food stores.

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