Between 23 March and 31 October 2018, the Colgate Community Garden Challenge invites pre-, primary and secondary schools nationwide to collect all brands of oral care waste and send it to TerraCycle, who will give the waste a second life by creating new products. 

Five recycled community garden sets will be awarded to five schools, with each set including three garden beds, two custom-made benches, one rubbish bin and one sign, plus a $500 gardening voucher to buy seeds and plants. Besides showing how recycled materials can be used as a sustainable alternative to virgin plastic, the sets are designed to promote gardening and healthy eating among schools. 

Michelle Tarrant from St Joseph’s Primary School said the competition was a great way to teach students about recycling the ‘non-recyclable’. 

“We’re always looking for ways to teach the children about sustainability,” Michelle said. “The challenge is teaching them that many waste items that usually go to landfill can actually be recycled.”

The Kempsey community is encouraged to drop their used oral care products at St Joseph’s Primary School to be recycled, and vote for them every day online at www.terracycle.com.au/colgategardenvoting 

Colgate Vice President and General Manager of South Pacific, Julie Dillon, said it’s greatto see schools getting involved.

“Colgate is thrilled to partner with Chemist Warehouse and TerraCycle to give kids the opportunity to win a recycled community garden set while reducing landfill,” she said.

“Well done, St Joseph’s Primary School – keep up the great recycling work.”

Schools can visit www.terracycle.com.au/colgategarden to join the competition, access posters and resources to get started, and to watch their competition ranking on a digital leaderboard. 

The Competition:

The Colgate Community Garden Challenge will have five winners that will each win a recycled community garden set: three winners will be the schools that recycle the most oral care waste and earn the most online votes from the community; two winners will be drawn at random. By sending at least one shipment (minimum 2kg) of accepted oral care waste to TerraCycle, schools earn one entry into the draw to win a recycled community garden set. 

Accepted oral care waste includes: toothpaste tubes and caps, toothbrushes, toothbrush and toothpaste tube outer packaging and floss containers. 

Additionally, in monthly prize draws, schools will have the chance to win a pack of 60 upcycled pencil cases made from recycled toothpaste tubes – another example of how oral care waste can become a valuable new product.   

Competition entry, rules and an interactive leaderboard can be found at www.terracycle.com.au/colgategarden 

The Recycling Program:

The Colgate Community Garden Challenge is part of the broader Oral Care Recycling Program sponsored by Colgate, which has enabled Australians to divert over 200,000 pieces of oral care waste from landfill since 2014. Additionally, collectors can earn donations toward their nominated school or non-profit organisation for each piece of oral care waste recycled.