Where to Recycle at Boots: Locations and Accepted Items
Boots offers an innovative recycling program that allows customers to responsibly dispose of beauty and skincare product packaging while earning rewards. This comprehensive guide will explore the details of the program.
The Scan2 Recycle scheme is a key component, enabling customers to deposit items and earn Advantage Card points. By participating, customers can reduce the environmental impact of beauty product waste.
With numerous participating Boots locations across the United States, customers can easily find a place to recycle their empty skincare products and other accepted items.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have the information needed to start recycling and maximizing your rewards through the Boots recycling program.
Understanding Boots’ Recycling Program
Boots has introduced an innovative recycling program to encourage customers to recycle their empty beauty and skincare product packaging. This initiative is part of Boots’ broader commitment to reducing environmental waste and promoting sustainability.
What is the Scan2 Recycle Scheme
The Scan2 Recycle scheme is Boots’ pioneering program that allows customers to recycle their used beauty and skincare packaging. The process is straightforward: customers collect their empty products, register them through the Scan2 Recycle website or app, and then deposit them at participating Boots stores. By making recycling easier and more accessible, Boots aims to significantly reduce the amount of beauty product waste that ends up in landfills.
Environmental Impact of Recycling Beauty Products
The beauty industry generates a substantial amount of waste, with billions of packaging items ending up in landfills each year. These items can take decades or even centuries to decompose, contributing to environmental pollution and climate change. By recycling beauty products through the Boots scheme, customers can help minimize landfill waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
| Environmental Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Reduced Landfill Waste | Minimizes the amount of beauty product packaging in landfills. |
| Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Decreases the production of greenhouse gases from decomposing waste. |
| Promotes Sustainability | Encourages the recycling of beauty and skincare packaging. |
Benefits of Participating in Boots’ Recycling Program
By participating in Boots’ recycling program, customers not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also benefit from the scheme. Customers earn Advantage Card points for their recycling efforts, with £5 worth of points awarded after recycling five qualifying items and making an in-store purchase of £10 or more within three days. This incentive encourages customers to make sustainable choices while being rewarded for their environmental consciousness.
How the Boots Recycling Scheme Works
Recycling at Boots is easy and rewarding, thanks to their innovative Scan2 Recycle program. This scheme is designed to encourage customers to recycle their empty beauty and skincare products while rewarding them with Advantage Card points. By participating, customers contribute to a more sustainable environment and benefit from their recycling efforts.
Setting Up Your Account on Scan2 Recycle Website
To begin using Boots’ recycling program, customers need to create an account on the Scan2 Recycle website and link their Boots Advantage Card. The account setup process is straightforward and user-friendly, making it accessible even for those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy. By creating an account, customers can start uploading photos of their empty products and track their recycling progress.
As described in the user’s experience, setting up the account involves adding the Boots Advantage Card details to claim rewards. The website acts much like a simple app, guiding users through the process.
Scanning and Uploading Your Empties
Once registered, customers can start uploading photos of their empty beauty and skincare products. The process involves taking clear pictures of each item, identifying the brand, product type, and packaging material from dropdown menus. This helps Boots track what types of items are being recycled most frequently. For example, a customer can upload a photo of an empty face serum bottle, selecting “The Ordinary” as the brand, “face serum” as the product type, and “bottle and dropper” as the packaging type.
Earning and Redeeming Advantage Card Points
After uploading photos, customers must wait for verification (typically within 24 hours) before their items are approved for recycling and added to their virtual “bank” of empties. When five or more items have been approved, customers can visit a participating Boots store to deposit their empties and receive Advantage Card points as a reward. These points can be redeemed against future purchases at Boots, creating a circular system that encourages both recycling and continued patronage.
By using the Boots recycling scheme, customers can earn rewards while contributing to a more sustainable future. The scheme is a great way to make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying the benefits of recycling.
Items Accepted for Recycling at Boots
The Boots recycling scheme is revolutionizing the way we dispose of beauty and personal care packaging. By accepting a wide variety of skincare and beauty products, Boots is making it easier for customers to recycle items that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Beauty and Skincare Products
Boots’ recycling program accepts a broad range of beauty and skincare product packaging. This includes empty containers from various brands sold at Boots, such as foundation bottles, mascara tubes, eyeshadow palettes, lipstick tubes, and compact cases. For skincare, the program takes empty packaging from cleansers, moisturizers, serums, face masks, toners, and treatment products, encompassing plastic bottles, tubes, pumps, and glass containers.
Some examples of accepted beauty items include:
- Makeup containers like foundation bottles and mascara tubes
- Eyeshadow palettes and lipstick tubes
- Compact cases from various brands
Personal Care Items
In addition to beauty and skincare products, Boots also recycles various personal care items. These include empty shampoo and conditioner bottles, body wash containers, lotion pumps, deodorant packaging (non-aerosol), and hard-to-recycle items like toothpaste tubes. By accepting these personal care items, Boots is helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
For more information on Boots’ recycling initiatives, you can visit their newsroom page about the blister pack recycling pilot.
Items Not Accepted for Recycling
While Boots’ recycling program is comprehensive, there are certain items that are not accepted. These include aerosols, medicines, perfume, and nail varnish, as they are either dangerous or cannot be recycled. Additionally, Boots does not accept items that can be easily recycled through standard household recycling programs, focusing instead on hard-to-recycle beauty and personal care packaging.
It’s essential to ensure that all containers are completely empty and reasonably clean before being submitted for recycling to guarantee they can be properly processed.
Preparing Your Items for Recycling
To effectively recycle at Boots, it’s crucial to understand the preparation required for your empty products. Proper preparation not only ensures that your items can be recycled effectively but also makes the verification process smoother when uploading photos to the Scan2 Recycle system.
Cleaning Requirements for Recyclable Items
Cleaning your empties before recycling them at Boots is essential. All product packaging should be emptied completely, with any remaining product removed to prevent contamination during the recycling process. For liquid products, rinsing containers with warm water can help remove residue. However, it’s advisable to avoid using excessive water, as this can have its own environmental impact.
For thicker products like creams or serums, consider cutting open tubes to remove as much product as possible. As emphasized by environmental guidelines, thorough cleaning is crucial, but it’s also understood that some residue may remain, especially in hard-to-clean containers.
Separating Different Types of Packaging
Different components of packaging may need to be separated if they’re made from different materials. For example, removing pumps from plastic bottles or separating cardboard sleeves from plastic containers is necessary. Some complex packaging includes multiple materials that need separation, such as glass bottles with plastic pumps or metal springs in pump mechanisms.
Items with mirrors or electronic components, like light-up makeup compacts, may require special handling or separation before recycling. By properly preparing your items, you contribute to a more efficient recycling process at Boots.
Boots Recycle Locations Across the United States

With hundreds of Boots stores now participating in the recycling scheme, customers have more opportunities than ever to recycle their beauty products. The company’s commitment to reducing waste and promoting sustainability is evident in its widespread recycling program.
Finding Your Nearest Participating Store
Boots has made it easy to find a participating store through its online store locator tool. Simply enter your location or zip code, and the tool will display the nearest stores with recycling bins. This feature ensures that customers can quickly and conveniently find a location to drop off their empties.
The store locator tool is user-friendly and provides detailed information about each location, including address, phone number, and operating hours. By filtering results to show only locations with recycling bins, customers can plan their recycling trip with ease.
Store Hours and Accessibility
Most Boots stores with recycling bins maintain the same operating hours as the store itself, making it convenient to drop off your empties during a regular shopping trip. Accessibility features vary by location, but most Boots stores offer wheelchair access and adequate space around recycling bins for all customers to participate comfortably.
Using the Store Locator Tool
The store locator tool is a valuable resource for customers looking to participate in the Boots recycling program. By providing detailed information about each location, including whether the store participates in the recycling program, customers can plan their recycling trip with confidence. To use the tool, simply visit the Boots website, enter your location, and filter the results to show participating stores.
Boots continues to expand its recycling program, with new locations being added regularly. By checking the store locator tool, customers can stay up-to-date on the latest participating stores and plan their recycling accordingly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Recycling at Boots
Recycling your empties at Boots is a simple and rewarding process that can be broken down into a few easy steps. By following this guide, you can ensure that your empty beauty and skincare products are properly recycled, reducing waste and contributing to a more sustainable environment.
Collecting Your Empty Products
The first step in recycling at Boots is to collect your empty beauty and skincare products. Focus on qualifying items that are accepted by the Boots recycling program, and ensure they are properly cleaned and prepared. This involves gathering at least five empty products that are eligible for recycling.
- Gather empty beauty and skincare products.
- Ensure the products are clean and free of residue.
- Check that the products are accepted by the Boots recycling program.
Photographing and Registering Items
Once you have collected at least five empty products, you need to photograph each item clearly showing the brand name and type of packaging. These photos will be uploaded to the Scan2 Recycle website or app. When uploading, you’ll need to select the brand, product type, and packaging material from dropdown menus for each item, helping Boots categorize and process recyclables efficiently.
- Photograph each empty product clearly.
- Upload the photos to the Scan2 Recycle website or app.
- Select the brand, product type, and packaging material for each item.
Depositing Items at the Store
After your items have been approved, take them to your nearest Boots store with a recycling bin. Use the Boots store locator to find your nearest participating location and check that you have at least five approved items ready for recycling. At the store, locate the recycling bin, typically near the No7 counter or checkout area, and open the Scan2 Recycle website or app on your mobile device.
- Locate the recycling bin at your nearest Boots store.
- Open the Scan2 Recycle website or app.
- Tap “Ready to Recycle,” select the items, and scan the QR code on the bin.
- Deposit your empty products in the recycling bin.
By following these steps, you can easily recycle your empty beauty products at Boots, earning rewards and contributing to a more sustainable future.
Using the Recycle at Boots App

The Recycle at Boots app has revolutionized the way customers recycle their beauty products. This dedicated mobile application is designed to streamline the recycling process, making it more convenient than the previous web-based system.
Available for both iOS and Android devices, the Recycle at Boots app offers a user-friendly interface that guides users through each step of the recycling process with intuitive navigation. The app’s key features include a streamlined photo upload system for registering empty products, a virtual “bank” where approved items are stored, and a rewards tracker showing earned and redeemed Advantage Card points.
App Features and Navigation
The app allows users to easily locate participating Boots stores through an integrated map function that shows the nearest recycling bin locations based on the user’s current position. The navigation is designed to be simple, ensuring that users can effortlessly move through the app and access its various features.
Tracking Your Recycling Progress
Users can track their recycling progress over time, viewing statistics on how many items they’ve recycled and the environmental impact of their efforts. The progress tracking feature includes milestones and achievements to gamify the recycling experience, encouraging continued participation in the program.
Troubleshooting Common App Issues
Common app issues include photo verification failures, which can usually be resolved by ensuring good lighting, clear product visibility, and proper focus when taking pictures. Connection problems may occur when trying to scan the QR code at recycling bins, typically resolved by ensuring strong mobile data or WiFi connection and enabling location services. If the app fails to recognize deposited items, users can contact Boots customer service through the help section of the app for assistance with manual verification.
By using the Recycle at Boots app, customers can make a positive impact on the environment while also earning rewards. The app is a significant step forward in making recycling more accessible and user-friendly.
Maximizing Your Boots Advantage Card Points

To get the most out of the Boots recycling program, it’s essential to understand how to maximize your Advantage Card points. By recycling your empty beauty products and making strategic purchases, you can earn significant rewards.
How Points Are Calculated
The calculation of Advantage Card points is straightforward: recycle five qualifying items, make a minimum $10 in-store purchase within three days, and earn 500 bonus points. This simple process rewards customers for their eco-friendly actions.
Strategies to Earn More Points Through Recycling
To maximize your point earnings, consider the following strategies:
- Create a collection system at home to gather empty beauty and skincare products throughout the month.
- Time your recycling deposits to coincide with other planned Boots purchases.
- Combine your empties with household members to reach the five-item threshold more quickly.
Combining with Other Boots Promotions
The recycling program can be combined with other Boots promotions, such as special event discounts and product-specific offers. For example, use your recycling rewards during Boots’ 70% off clearance sales to purchase already discounted items for maximum value. Check the Boots weekly circular or app for items that offer bonus Advantage Card points, and double-dip on point earnings.
Alternative Recycling Options for Beauty Products
Besides Boots, several other beauty retailers have implemented recycling programs for empty product packaging, providing consumers with a range of options to recycle their beauty and skincare products.
Major beauty chains like Sephora, Ulta, and MAC Cosmetics offer their own recycling programs with various incentives. For instance, Sephora’s program allows customers to recycle their empty containers and receive rewards, such as discounts on future purchases. Similarly, Ulta’s program offers points for recycling, which can be redeemed for products or services.
Other Retailer Recycling Programs
Specialty beauty brands such as Lush, Kiehl’s, and The Body Shop have long-standing recycling programs that focus on their own product packaging. These programs often offer more substantial rewards for returning their branded containers. For example, Lush offers a discount on the next purchase for customers who return their empty containers.
Some retailers partner with TerraCycle to create free recycling programs for specific types of beauty packaging that might not be accepted in curbside recycling. This partnership expands the range of products that can be recycled, making it easier for consumers to participate in recycling programs.
Local Community Recycling Centers
For beauty products not accepted by retailer programs, many local community recycling centers have specialized capabilities for handling hard-to-recycle items like makeup containers and aerosol cans. It’s essential to check local recycling guidelines to determine what types of beauty products are accepted.
Some municipalities now offer special collection events for household hazardous waste, which can include items like nail polish, aerosol hairspray, and perfume that aren’t accepted in standard recycling programs. Earth911’s recycling directory is a valuable resource that allows consumers to search by product type and zip code to find the nearest appropriate recycling facility for specific beauty items.
By exploring these alternative recycling options, consumers can contribute to reducing waste and promoting sustainability in the beauty industry.
Tips for Sustainable Beauty Shopping
Embracing sustainable beauty shopping habits can make a significant difference in reducing environmental footprint. When shopping at Boots, there are several ways to make eco-friendly choices that not only benefit the planet but also enhance your skincare and beauty routine.
Choosing Eco-Friendly Brands at Boots
Boots carries an expanding range of eco-friendly beauty brands that prioritize sustainable ingredients, minimal product packaging, and ethical manufacturing practices. Look for brands that use recycled materials in their packaging, offer refillable options, or have their own take-back recycling programs to complement Boots’ initiatives.
Reducing Beauty Product Waste
To reduce beauty product waste, consider the longevity of products by selecting concentrated formulas that require less frequent replacement. You can also use every last bit of product by cutting open tubes, like toothpaste tubes, to access remaining content, using spatulas to scrape out jars, and storing bottles upside down to utilize all contents.
Reusable Alternatives to Single-Use Products
Investing in reusable alternatives to single-use beauty items is another effective way to minimize waste. Consider washable makeup removal cloths, safety razors with replaceable blades, and refillable makeup compacts. For personal care, solid products like shampoo bars and bar soap eliminate the need for plastic packaging entirely, offering a more sustainable way to maintain your routine.
Conclusion
As we wrap up our exploration of Boots’ recycling program, it’s clear that this initiative is a significant step towards a more sustainable future for beauty consumers. The program’s accessibility continues to expand across the United States, making it increasingly convenient for beauty consumers to recycle items that would otherwise end up in landfills.
By following the simple steps outlined in this guide—collecting empties, photographing and registering items, and depositing them at participating stores—anyone can easily incorporate recycling into their beauty routine. The financial incentive of earning Advantage Card points makes the Boots recycling program particularly attractive, effectively paying customers to make environmentally responsible choices.
For items not accepted by Boots’ program, alternative recycling options are available, including other retailer programs and local community resources. By combining recycling efforts with mindful purchasing decisions, beauty consumers can significantly reduce the environmental impact of their personal care routines while still enjoying their favorite beauty and skincare products.
The beauty industry is gradually shifting toward more sustainable practices, with programs like Boots’ recycling scheme leading the way. As consumer awareness grows, more retailers are likely to implement similar programs, expanding options for responsible disposal of beauty and skincare packaging. Whether you’re new to sustainable beauty practices or already committed to reducing your environmental footprint, Boots’ recycling program offers an accessible entry point to more conscious consumption.
In conclusion, participating in Boots’ recycling program represents a significant step toward more sustainable beauty consumption. By making environmentally responsible choices, consumers can contribute to a more circular and sustainable beauty industry. Check local participating stores to start recycling your qualifying items today and enjoy the benefits of the Boots recycling scheme.
FAQ
What types of products can I recycle at Boots stores?
You can recycle a range of beauty and personal care products, including skincare and makeup items, as well as certain packaging materials like toothpaste tubes and empty product containers.
How do I prepare my items for recycling?
Make sure to clean and rinse your empty product containers before recycling them. You should also separate different types of packaging materials, such as plastics and glass.
Can I recycle products from other brands at Boots?
Yes, Boots accepts products from various brands for recycling, not just their own products.
How do I earn Advantage Card points through the recycling scheme?
By participating in the Scan2 Recycle scheme and recycling eligible items, you can earn Advantage Card points that can be redeemed for rewards.
What is the Scan2 Recycle scheme, and how does it work?
The Scan2 Recycle scheme is a program that allows you to recycle your empty beauty and personal care products and earn rewards. You can scan your empty products using the Boots app or website and then deposit them at participating stores.
Can I track my recycling progress through the Boots app?
Yes, the Boots app allows you to track your recycling progress and view your Advantage Card points balance.
Are there any items that are not accepted for recycling at Boots?
Yes, certain items like aerosol cans and products with specific packaging materials may not be accepted for recycling. Check the Boots website or app for a full list of accepted and non-accepted items.
How do I find my nearest participating Boots store?
You can use the store locator tool on the Boots website or app to find your nearest participating store and check their hours and accessibility.








