5 Innovative Ways to Recycle your Menstrual Cup
One of the most common reasons to switch to a menstrual cup is for the environment. The lifespan of one of our Peachlife Menstrual Cups is a whopping 10 years, which prevents more than 11,000 tampons per person from being put into the environment. But like all good things, once the 10 years is up, they need to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.
In this article, we’re going to give you some inspiration for recycling your menstrual cup in an environmentally friendly and fun way. Let’s get started!
When to recycle your menstrual cup
10 years is the maximum recommended time to keep using the same menstrual cup, assuming it has been well looked after. You may choose to replace it more frequently, for example due to stains or discolorations. Although menstrual cup discolorations don’t affect the efficacy or safety during usage (as long as it is cleaned and properly boiled or disinfected), you may want to change it to a fresh new cup every once in a while.
How to recycle your menstrual cup
Peachlife Menstrual Cups are made using medical-grade silicone which means they should be recycled properly. Luckily, silicone does not contain all the harmful chemicals that may be in tampons and so even when they are disposed of, they are not going to have the same cumulative negative effect on the environment. However, it is a good idea to take into account that it’s not compostable.
So when you are ready to recycle your menstrual cup, here are 5 things you can do with it:
1. Donate to a silicone company
EcoUSA Recycling is just one of many recycling plants that can take old silicone products and transform them into other products for other uses. Check out silicone recycling plants near you.
2. Turn it into a sex toy
Sounds strange, but if you want to give a gift that keeps giving, send in your old menstrual cup to sex toy recycling plants like Come As You Are. This is because sex toys are made from the same medical-grade silicone. Make sure to boil and sanitize the cup before sending it in.
3. Make a self-watering planter
A self-watering planter provides a consistent source of moisture to the plants growing, allowing you to water it less frequently. Instead of buying one, you can transform your menstrual cup into one, for maximum environmental support. Check out this blog that explains how you can make it with a water bottle, which you’d substitute in for your Peachlife cup!
4. Local organizations
Local organizations like recycling centers or hospitals may be on the lookout for medical-grade silicone to use for the creation of other products. Checking out what’s local to you and contacting them can be the easiest way to recycle your menstrual cup.
5. Arts and crafts
If you’re a little more crafty, transform your menstrual cup into something unique! Use your own artistic flair to shapeshift the cup into something useful for your daily life. Here are some ideas:
● Jewelry holder
● Pen organizer
● Painting canvas
● Paper mache
● Candle or incense holder (be careful not to ignite, burn or melt the period cup)
● Key Chain
● Christmas ornament
When your menstrual cup lifespan has come to an end, give it a new life. Recycle it! We hope this article has given you some inspiration.