The Aqua Optima® Water Filter Free Recycling Programme
This programme is closing to public drop-off points. If you manage a public drop-off point, you have until 17 September 2026 to download your prepaid QR codes or shipping labels and send us your final parcels. Parcels handed to the courier from 18 September 2026 will not receive any TerraCycle points. The programme remains available to its existing network of private collectors.
Aqua Optima Universal water filters
.jpg)
Aqua Optima Evolve+
How to become a public drop-off point
Simply request to join this programme, and once you are confirmed, your location will show up on the drop-off map. Set up boxes that community members can fill with their rubbish to be recycled, and send full boxes to TerraCycle via InPost or FedEx at no cost to you. Enrolment limits apply. If the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.
Collect with Your Community
Once your location is approved as a drop-off point, community members will be able to find it on the map and drop-off their rubbish to be recycled.
Download to scan or print
When your box is full, sign in to your TerraCycle account to request a prepaid QR code with InPost or download a prepaid shipping label with FedEx.
Send
Seal your box, scan your prepaid QR code when dropping off your waste at an InPost locker or print and affix the shipping label for FedEx, and send it to us to be recycled.
Get Started
This programme is closing to public drop-off points.
If you manage a public drop-off point, you have until 17 September 2026 to download your prepaid QR codes or shipping labels and send us your final parcels. Parcels handed to the courier from 18 September 2026 will not receive any TerraCycle points. The programme remains available to its existing network of private collectors.
See answers to frequently-asked questions here. Can’t find the answer to your question on this page? Learn more about becoming a drop-off point.
Enrolment limits may apply.
Join the waitlistClick here to learn how to start a public drop-off point.
Please note: A minimum distance of 2 miles is required between each drop-off point, unless you are in a heavily populated area. In addition, your public drop-off point must be open for at least 3 hours per week.
It’s easy to set up and manage a drop-off point, and you can recruit a group of friends to help!
Set Up:
- Choose a location and receive permission if needed.
- Create or update your TerraCycle account profile with details about your drop-off location.
- Request to join the programmes of your choice.
- Once approved, set up your drop-off location.
Manage:
- Oversee the location (check it is being used properly, and that waste is being shipped when collection boxes are filled).
- When boxes are filled, seal them to ship them to us.
We encourage you to send your box when it is full of accepted waste to minimise the transportation carbon footprint for this programme. Sending your hard-to-recycle rubbish is easy: Simply scan your prepaid QR code when you drop off your box at an InPost locker or print your prepaid shipping label to send your box via FedEx. Wet/dripping packages will not be accepted, so please make sure they are dry.
Please follow the steps below to send your waste to us. We recommend the paperless service offered by InPost.
InPost - no printer required:
- Request a prepaid InPost QR code from your account. You’ll receive it via email.
- No need to print it! Simply have it ready on your phone.
- Place your waste in a sturdy cardboard box that is no bigger than 41x38x64 cm and has a maximum weight of 15 kg.
- Find your nearest 24/7 InPost Locker here - there are over 7,000 across the UK - and scan your unique QR code when you drop off your parcel.
FedEx - printer required:
- Request a prepaid FedEx label from your account.
- Download your label and print it out from your email.
- Either arrange a parcel pickup or drop them off at FedEx parcel shops
- For collection: Your parcel must not weigh more than 25kg, and dimensions can’t exceed 100cm x 70cm x 70cm
- For drop-off: Your parcel must not weigh more than 15kg max, and dimensions can’t exceed 90cm x 60cm x 60cm
→ over 4,500 locations available
You can use the same label to plan a collection or drop off the parcel.
-
For collection: Schedule online at fedex.com/en-gb/shipping/schedule-pickup
or by phone (03456 00 00 68). Provide your tracking number (this is 12 digits, located in bold at the bottom of your label) and postcode, and select “arrange a pick-up” on the next page, choose a pickup date/time, and add any instructions. You can arrange a collection for the same postcode or a different one.
-
Drop-off: Take your parcel to any FedEx location and show your label.
If the request is received before 1 pm, FedEx will attempt collection the same day.
If the request is received after 1 pm, FedEx will attempt collection on the next business day.
Promote: Spread awareness about your location to encourage participation.
Allocate: As you accumulate TerraCycle points, choose which charities to donate to!
There are no direct costs to you for running a public drop-off point. Many collectors spend nothing other than their time. You may choose to purchase specific boxes or bins for your drop-off location, but you can also just use extra boxes you have at home.
Public spaces that have good traffic flow and are easily accessible are excellent drop-off points. Stores, community centers, places of worship, and libraries are great options.
You choose which TerraCycle free recycling programmes your drop-off point will participate in. Collectors can drop off only the waste accepted in those TerraCycle programmes.
No - unfortunately we do not provide collection boxes for this programme.
Earn Recycling Rewards
Earn TerraCycle points by recycling with us! You can redeem your points in the form of a donation to a school, charity, or nonprofit of your choice. Thanks to the recycling efforts of TerraCyclers like you, we've raised millions globally for schools, charities, and other nonprofits through our recycling programmes.
Click here to learn more about our Recycling Rewards Programme.
1. Recycle
Request for your drop-off point to join the Aqua Optima® Free Recycling Programme. Once approved, begin collecting recycling with your community.
2. Earn Rewards
Send in the recycling you’ve collected at your drop-off point. As the drop-off administrator, you’ll earn all of the points for your shipments! Shipments earn 100 points per kilogram. To earn points, the minimum weight of your shipment must be 2 kilograms.
3. Redeem Rewards
TerraCycle points can be redeemed for a donation of £0.01 per point. You’ll get to choose which charities or schools to support with the points you earn from your drop-off.
How it works
This programme is closing to public drop-off points.
If you manage a public drop-off point, you have until 17 September 2026 to download your prepaid QR codes or shipping labels and send us your final parcels. Parcels handed to the courier from 18 September 2026 will not receive any TerraCycle points.
The programme remains available to its existing network of private collectors.
Simply request a QR code with InPost or download a shipping label via FedEx to send your hard-to-recycle waste for free to TerraCycle, and we’ll recycle it. Enrolment limits apply. If the program is full, you will be added to a waitlist.
Collect
Create a TerraCycle account and join this programme. Then reuse any box you have to start collecting your Aqua Optima® water filters.
Download to scan or print
When your box is full, sign in to your TerraCycle account to request a prepaid QR code with InPost or download a prepaid shipping label with FedEx.
Send
Seal your box, scan your prepaid QR code when dropping off your waste at an InPost locker or print and affix the shipping label for FedEx, and send it to us to be recycled.
Get Started
Participating in this programme is easy and FREE! See answers to frequently-asked questions here. Can’t find the answer to your question on this page? Visit our Help Centre.
Enrolment limits may apply.
Sign up and join waitlistYou can recycle the following types of Aqua Optima water filters accepted in the programme:
- Aqua Optima Evolve and Evolve+ filters
- Aqua Optima Universal water filters
Waste that is NOT accepted:
- Water filters of other brands
- Any filter packaging
For more information, please download our Accepted Waste Poster.
Yes, this national recycling programme is brand-specific, which means you can only recycle the packaging of this particular brand.
Aqua Optima® has sponsored this national recycling programme, so there is no direct cost to you.
We encourage you to send your box when it is full of accepted waste to minimise the transportation carbon footprint for this programme. Sending your hard-to-recycle rubbish is easy: Simply scan your prepaid QR code when you drop off your box at an InPost locker or print your prepaid shipping label to send your box via FedEx. Wet/dripping packages will not be accepted, so please make sure they are dry.
Please follow the steps below to send your waste to us. We recommend the paperless service offered by InPost.
InPost - no printer required:
- Request a prepaid InPost QR code from your account. You’ll receive it via email.
- No need to print it! Simply have it ready on your phone.
- Place your waste in a sturdy cardboard box that is no bigger than 41x38x64 cm and has a maximum weight of 15 kg.
- Find your nearest 24/7 InPost Locker here - there are over 7,000 across the UK - and scan your unique QR code when you drop off your parcel.
FedEx - printer required:
- Request a prepaid FedEx label from your account.
- Download your label and print it out from your email.
- Either arrange a parcel pickup or drop them off at FedEx parcel shops
- For collection: Your parcel must not weigh more than 25kg, and dimensions can’t exceed 100cm x 70cm x 70cm
- For drop-off: Your parcel must not weigh more than 15kg max, and dimensions can’t exceed 90cm x 60cm x 60cm
→ over 4,500 locations available
You can use the same label to plan a collection or drop off the parcel.
-
For collection: Schedule online at fedex.com/en-gb/shipping/schedule-pickup
or by phone (03456 00 00 68). Provide your tracking number (this is 12 digits, located in bold at the bottom of your label) and postcode, and select “arrange a pick-up” on the next page, choose a pickup date/time, and add any instructions. You can arrange a collection for the same postcode or a different one.
-
Drop-off: Take your parcel to any FedEx location and show your label.
If the request is received before 1 pm, FedEx will attempt collection the same day.
If the request is received after 1 pm, FedEx will attempt collection on the next business day.
No, you do not need to clean the packaging before dropping it off, but please remove as much of the remaining product as possible before shipping. Public drop-off locations will not accept dripping items, so make sure that the filters are completely dry.
Earn Recycling Rewards
Earn TerraCycle points by recycling with us! You can redeem your points in the form of a donation to a school, charity, or nonprofit of your choice. Thanks to the recycling efforts of TerraCyclers like you, we've raised millions globally for schools, charities, and other nonprofits through our recycling programmes.
Click here to learn more about our Recycling Rewards Programme.
1. Recycle
Sign up for the Aqua Optima® Water Filter Free Recycling Programme and begin recycling.
2. Earn Rewards
Send in your recycling to earn reward points. Shipments earn 100 points per kilogram. To earn reward points, your shipment must weigh at least 2 kilogram.
3. Redeem Rewards
TerraCycle points can be redeemed for a donation of £0.01 per point to the charitable organization or school of your choice.
Discover Our Recycling Process
Once collected, the Aqua Optima® Water Filter packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.
Click here to learn more about the recycling process.
Learn More About Aqua Optima®
Leading water filtration experts, Aqua Optima® are excited to partner with TerraCycle® to offer a way to recycle their water filters as a commitment to the environment and in order to tackle single-use plastics. This way you can enjoy great tasting water at home, work or on the move, whilst enjoying a healthy life and healthy earth.