Dental Floss Alternative ways to recycle Trash Container Both the floss and the container are trash no matter what # plastic it is made from. The small size of the container makes this difficult to recycle since it slips through recycling sorting equipment. REDUCE TIP: Shop for refillable dental floss systems. Never Flush Floss Floss doesn’t break down when flushed and can combine with other materials to clog drains. Alternative Ways to Recycle TerraCycle Colgate® Oral Care Brigade Colgate has partnered up with TerraCycle to create the Colgate Oral Care Brigade®, a completely free recycling program that accepts used toothbrushes, toothbrush and toothpaste tube packaging and boxes, floss containers and toothpaste tube caps. Find out more. Ways to Reduce Skip the Picks Floss picks create unnecessary plastic waste. Skip the picks and opt for traditional floss, which is a lower waste option. Choose Natural Floss Generic floss is typically made out of nylon, a synthetic plastic material that won’t break down over time. Reduce the amount of plastic that builds up in our environment by choosing natural, biodegradable floss made from silk instead. Choose Reusable or Recyclable Containers Many types of floss now come in refillable glass containers or recyclable cardboard containers instead of the plastic, disposable ones. To minimize your footprint, choose a type of floss that generates minimal packaging waste.