Can You Recycle Nail Polish Remover Bottles? (Full Guide)

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Jean Richardson

Jean Richardson is a lover of knowledge, in all forms. He has spent over 15 years as a high school teacher, instructing students in history, geography, mathematics, and more.

We all have those random nail polish remover bottles that are lying around the house or piled up at the workplace. 

So, if you are wondering or not whether you can recycle nail polish remover bottles or how to dispose of them correctly you are in the right place. Here is what I discovered! 

Can You Recycle Nail Polish Remover Bottles?

Nail polish remover is a solvent even when non-acetone removers are used, so nail polish remover bottles should not be recycled in regular household waste.  Furthermore, nail polish remover bottles should be collected and taken to a household hazardous waste facility for proper disposal. 

Nail polish removers need to be recycled a little differently than some materials, but that doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t go through the trouble to do it. Therefore, keep reading to learn more about nail polish remover bottles and how to recycle them!

How To Recycle Nail Polish Remover Bottles

Nail polish remover bottles should be reserved, collected, and taken to a Treatment, Storage, Disposal, and Recycling (TSDR) facility to recycle them. 

Furthermore, doing a quick online search for TSDR facilities in your area can help you locate the closest recycling facility that can take your nail polish remover bottles. 

Keep in mind that both acetone and non-acetone nail polish removers are solvent chemicals that can eat through many other materials. 

Therefore, these bottles must be recycled separately from other plastic recycling. 

Otherwise, the chemicals from the bottles could cause a hazard or contaminate the other recycling. 

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That being said, you shouldn’t be putting your nail polish remover bottles in your regular household recycling.

So, how do you dispose of nail polish remover bottles then? Continue reading to find out how!

How To Dispose Of Nail Polish Remover Bottles

There are two ways to dispose of nail polish remover depending on if the bottle is full (or even with some acetone left) or is empty.  

Furthermore, follow these steps to correctly dispose of your nail polish remover, even if it has liquid in it. 

Firstly, when you are almost out of nail polish remover, you need to remember not to pour any of your nail polish removers down the drain or rinse the bottle out. 

These chemicals are considered hazardous household chemicals, and dumping them into the water system is illegal in many places around the world. 

Since you may not want to run down to the recycling center for a single old bottle of nail polish remover, it’s a good idea to collect these bottles in a marked bag or container.

This way, they don’t accidentally end up getting mixed in with other recycling. 

Additionally, if your nail polish remover bottle is empty, the best place for it is in the trash. 

However, be sure that there is no liquid left in it!

What Materials Are Nail Polish Remover Bottles Made Of?

What Materials Are Nail Polish Remover Bottles Made Of?

Since nail polish remover is a solvent, it requires a plastic with a high chemical resistance that won’t break down under prolonged contact with acetone or non-acetone solvents. 

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Furthermore, the plastics usually used in nail polish remover bottles are plastics such as the following

  • Polyethylene
  • Polypropylene
  • Fluoroplastics

While these plastics are easily recyclable, they’ve been in contact with a chemical solvent in nail polish remover bottles which means they need to be treated separately in recycling facilities. 

Now that you know these bottles require specialized recycling procedures; keep reading to find out if they are biodegradable!

Are Nail Polish Remover Bottles Biodegradable?

Many plastic containers used to hold nail polish remover are plastic polymers that are classified as non-biodegradable. 

Furthermore, this means it takes them a massive amount of time to break down in the environment if they are capable of breaking down at all without deliberate recycling. 

It’s one of the main reasons why taking the time to recycle and reuse nail polish remover bottles is so important. 

However, one way that many environmentally friendly manufacturers get away from the problem of biodegradability is by selling their nail polish remover in glass bottles. 

While glass also does not biodegrade easily, it is a neutral substance that does not release toxins into the environment as it degrades as some plastics do. 

Additionally, glass containers can also be reused over, and over again.

However, what about the environmental impact of nail polish remover bottles?

Are Nail Polish Remover Bottles Bad For The Environment?

Nail polish remover bottles can be bad for the environment if they aren’t recycled properly. 

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Furthermore, this is because acetone can leach into local waterways. 

Additionally, non-biodegradable plastics can end up in the wilderness and oceans as the result of nail polish remover bottles not being disposed of properly at a recycling facility. 

Dispose Of Nail Polish Remover Bottles Responsibly

Humanity already puts a lot of pressure on the environment with the creation of non-biodegradable products and large amounts of waste. 

The least we can do to help keep our planet clean and full of renewable resources for centuries to come is to dispose of our hazardous materials safely.

To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether you can recycle metal cutlery and utensils, whether you can recycle McDonald’s fast-food soda cups, and whether you can recycle magazines.

Conclusion

Plastic nail polish remover bottles cannot be recycled because of the chemicals that were contained inside. Furthermore, to properly dispose of them you can throw them into the trash or bring them to a TSDR facility.

However, if your nail polish remover bottle is made of glass it can easily be recycled in your regular recycling program.

Author

  • Jean Richardson

    Jean Richardson is a lover of knowledge, in all forms. He has spent over 15 years as a high school teacher, instructing students in history, geography, mathematics, and more.

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