L'Oréal Australia has partnered with TerraCycle to launch a collection and recycling service for consumers.
Beauty and personal care packaging from any company can be taken to a collection point and recycled for free.
"TerraCycle's focus is taking traditionally unrecyclable products and making them recyclable to divert as much waste as possible from landfill," Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, told The Huffington Post Australia.
It hasn't been possible to do this in the past due to the complex structure of beauty product containers such as mascara tubes.
"We're able to recycle glass because it is valuable, but many of the more complex products actually cost more to collect and process than it's worth," Szaky said.
That's why L'Oréal has stepped in to offset the economic costs involved as part of its strategy for sustainable development.
Consumers have been asked to visit Terracycle.com.au and join the L'Oréal Australia program; fill a cardboard box with cosmetic waste; download a free Australia post shipping label; and send their box to a warehouse in Sydney.
There, the waste is shredded and separated.
Collected waste is then sold to companies that use plastic to make products.
Consumers can download the RecycleSmart app for more information.
