Invisalign trays, with their fashionable and clear design, provide an environment friendly method to straighten tooth with out the need for typical metal braces. Nonetheless, they arrive with a recycling downside. Created from a proprietary mixture of provides, along with polyurethane resins, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, and 1.6-hexanediol, Invisalign trays aren’t accepted by regular recycling packages.
Let’s uncover why Invisalign trays could also be onerous to recycle and check out specialised recycling choices for these and associated merchandise.
Why Invisalign Trays Can’t Be Recycled Regionally
The provides in Invisalign trays combine numerous elements to realize sturdiness and flexibility nevertheless aren’t appropriate with typical recycling streams.
Invisalign trays fall beneath the category of composite provides, meaning they’re made of assorted provides that are troublesome to separate for reuse. Commonplace recyclers typically give consideration to additional frequent plastics, like PET and HDPE, which are used for devices like water bottles and containers. The parts that make Invisalign sturdy by way of many nights’ placed on are a barrier to recycling by muncipal packages.
For a deeper dive into composite provides and recycling challenges, strive our data on composite packaging recycling.
TerraCycle has a Reply for Invisalign Trays
Should you want to recycle your used trays, a specialised program may be your best option, and which suggests it’s possible you’ll ask your dentist to grow to be concerned. Invisalign has partnered with TerraCycle, a corporation recognized for recycling hard-to-process devices, along with oral care merchandise. By this partnership, dental locations of labor can organize assortment components for Invisalign trays and completely different associated devices. Victims can ask their orthodontists or dentists within the occasion that they’re part of this TerraCycle program and encourage them to participate within the occasion that they’re not already involved.
Alternatively, TerraCycle offers a paid selection for specific particular person clients often known as the Oral Care Zero Waste Pouch, a pre-paid mail-bask pouch allows you to ship in oral care devices for recycling, along with Invisalign trays. It’s a useful reply in case your dental office isn’t collaborating throughout the TerraCycle program.
Encourage Recycling on the Dentist’s Office
In case your dentist’s office doesn’t however participate in Invisalign’s TerraCycle program, take into consideration bringing it up! Permit them to know in regards to the environmental benefits of offering recycling selections for Invisalign trays, notably since many victims endure numerous trays all through treatment.
Completely different Strategies to In the reduction of Waste All through Treatment
- Consolidate Appointments: To steer clear of the environmental affect of frequent journey, try to consolidate check-ups and determine up numerous models of trays at once, in case your orthodontist permits.
- Keep Earlier Trays as Backups: As an alternative of throwing out each tray, take into consideration holding the ultimate used set as a backup in case you lose or harm your current set.
- Rethink Single-Use Merchandise: Ask your dentist about completely different strategies to make your orthodontic treatment additional sustainable, akin to avoiding single-use plastic dental offers.
Whereas Invisalign trays aren’t recyclable throughout the typical sense, TerraCycle’s specialised program provides an selection for environmentally conscious victims. Recycling superior provides is a rising self-discipline, and with elevated demand for accountable recycling selections, additional choices would possibly emerge. Until then, consider using TerraCycle’s suppliers, advocating for his or her presence in your dental office, and making sustainable alternatives all by way of your Invisalign journey.