Portsmouth’s first dental recycling site opens to the public
Portsmouth’s first dental recycling site has opened to the public.
The city’s first dedicated dental recycling centre has opened as part of a scheme run by the University of Portsmouth’s Dental Academy. The programme is part of the university’s Revolution Plastics project, which encourages students, staff and members of the public to recycle and reduce waste.
The recycling site will process all kinds of dental supplies, including toothbrushes and packaging, using the items to create new products. The site will be responsible for sorting dental care products and cleaning and shredding ready for repurposing.
Dr Carolina Machuca Vargas, senior lecturer in public health at the university, said that she hoped that the initiative would encourage the local community to support recycling programmes and eco-friendly schemes. Many staff members and students are already recycling products and the university is working towards being a climate positive institution by 2030.
The dental recycling bins, which are accessible to everyone, are located in the waiting room of the Dental Academy, which is open from 8.30 am until 5 pm every weekday. The academy is on Hampshire Terrace.
Dental clinics and practices produce a huge amount of recyclable waste, but many patients also dispose of a considerable amount of waste, including old toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, empty floss containers and inter-dental brushes.
Recycling schemes help to ensure that supplies are recycled and reused, reducing waste and plastic consumption. Several schemes are up and running across the UK in a bid to encourage dental workers and patients to recycle as much as possible.
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