During a ‘spring clean’ or a feng shui detox, eventually it is time to clear out your medicine cabinet and bathroom cupboards, and old medications and beauty products have to be disposed. There are some logical steps to make sure that these substances are properly destroyed.

First check the expiration date – it is a personal choice how soon after an expiration date one will throw out a product, but most consumer reports say 1 year past its prime is the maximum one should dare.

Second check the ingredients list – first look for the Dirty Dozen
a. BHA and BHT
b. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number
c. DEA-related ingredients
d. Dibutyl phthalate
e. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
f. Parabens
g. Parfum (fragrance)
h. PEG Compounds
i. Petrolatum
j. Siloxanes
k. Sodium laureth sulfate
l. Triclosan
For disposal of products containing the above ingredients, do not throw them in the garbage. There are safer alternatives:
1) Simply use the remainder of the product and recycle the container (do not rinse first as this will end up down the drain
2) Call or go online to find your local recycling centre that disposes of household waste – if they dispose of paint they can dispose of cosmetics
a. Note * Lipstick or nail polish made with lead or acrylates will have to be disposed of as paint*
3) Check with your local pharmacy or chemist to see if they have a beauty recycling program or a Drug Take Back Program
4) Empty as much of the product into the trash as possible – do not rinse the container, wipe it with a paper towel, and then recycle the container
5) Throw the entire container away, with product inside
a. Caps can often be recycled
6) If you do not have a facility and the expired items must be disposed of in the trash, it is advisable to dispose of them in a bag and to mix them with an undesirable substance such as kitty litter or coffee grounds, to avoid animals wanting to eat them.

If the Dirty Dozen are not in your products, and they are all natural and biodegradable, they can be disposed of in the sink, containers rinsed and containers recycled, or refilled. Many companies have a return policy where they will refill and offer an incentive for the action, while others will have a spot for returning empties.