Writing Instruments Recycling Programme
Recycle your used writing instruments through this programme.
- Participating locations
- 250
- Available locations
- 0
- Waste recycled
- 149,786
- Money raised
- $1,271.71
Recycle your used pens, markers and other accepted waste in this program
Writing Instruments are simple tools that we use daily, at home, school or work. Thanks to our partner BIC®, now you can recycle them for free, helping to protect the environment. There are two options to recycle through this programme:
- Sign up to collect as a school, office or organisation, or become a public drop-off point.
- Find your nearest Community Collection Hub and drop off your waste to be recycled
THANK YOU for the overwhelming support for this programme! We've filled all available private collection spots for the moment, but you'll be added to the waitlist and we'll let you know as soon as we open more spots! in the meantime, look for your nearest collection hub below.
Important!
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The minimum shipment weight required to earn TerraCycle points has been increased to 7kg.
By encouraging larger shipments through this program, we can help create an even smaller environmental footprint. We also encourage businesses and large collectors to consider sending 15-20kg at a time when possible, to maximise efficiency.
If you need help collecting more waste, check out our Collect, Store and Ship Guide, as well as our Engaging your Community guide.
Collection Hub Locations
Click on the map for collection hub stations
How it works
Participating in your home, office, school or organisation is completely free and very easy.
Collect used writing instruments in any box, until you have collected at least 2kg. When you are ready to send in a shipment, download a shipping label from your TerraCycle account by clicking “Request a postage label” and follow the prompts.
Print out your label and tape it securely onto your box. Ship the box to Terracycle by dropping it off at your nearest post office.
Ever wondered what we do with your used writing instruments once they are sent in for recycling? This short video explains the entire recycling process of the writing instruments from collection to the final transformation
What you can recycle in this programme
Accepted waste in this programme: All writing instruments (except for wooden pencils, crayons and chalk) are accepted:
Any brand of pen, felt tip, highlighter, marker, correction fluid pot (must be empty), correction tape, mechanical pencil and eraser pen regardless of their composition.
Note that we do not accept glue sticks, erasers, rulers or other cutting objects that could disturb the recycling process. Please be careful not to include any of those items.
What happens to the waste
Once collected, the writing instruments are cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remoulded to make new recycled products. Click here for more information about our recycling process.
Rewards
Earn points for the waste you recycle
Each parcel that weighs more than 7kg qualifies for rewards in the form of TerraCycle points. For each kilogram of accepted waste you send through this programme, you'll earn $1 in donation points, redeemable for a payment to a school or charity of your choice.
Resources
LEARN MORE ABOUT BIC®
Did you know that with a BIC® Cristal® pen that only weighs 5.8 g, you could write for 3km? Along with several other BIC® writing and colouring instruments the BIC® Cristal® pen received the NF Environment Mark (NF 400) which rewards the best products in terms of quality and environmental impact.You should also try...
To further your zero waste initiatives, you may be interested in some of our additional programmes.
