TePe launches pilot recycling initiative

The TePe Environmental Recycling Initiative (TERI) will provide dental patients and staff with the UK’s first pilot recycling solution for interdental brushes.

As part of this scheme, used interdental brushes can now be returned to the dental practice for recycling. The initiative marks a step change in the current disposal process, as it is not yet possible to recycle materials or products that are composed of more than one element in the UK. However, dental practices already have a solution in place to dispose of sharps and contaminated waste.

The TERI scheme will therefore utilise the existing system to dispose of interdental brushes in practice. This waste will then be incinerated to generate energy for heating and bottom ash for road and car park surfacing.

 Elaine Tilling, TePe’s head of projects and clinical education, said, “Plastics and other non-recyclable material are a prevalent issue for the dental profession and the wider dental industry. As a Swedish company, TePe has a long standing and strong commitment to environmental protection and is constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce waste. The TERI pilot is about using an existing system for recycling products that would normally go into landfill. We have had a really enthusiastic response from dental practices wishing to take part in the pilot and we look forward to working with them to review the uptake over the coming months.”