Can you recycle ballpoint pens?

Recycle bic pens

The felt pen consists of a plastic tube-shaped body containing ink, and a porous synthetic fiber tip (or felt) that is soaked with the same ink, depositing it on paper and other surfaces as we write or draw.

Going to a clean point is the best solution for this type of waste. However, in some cities, there is also a mobile collection point (truck) that travels through the neighborhoods once a week.

Another alternative to the clean points is Terracycle, a project of the company Bic, which allows citizens to deposit their unusable pens, felt-tip pens and markers for recycling.

Although there are still not many alternatives on the market, it is true that there is a global trend towards eco-friendly products and that this is being transferred to writing instruments, such as markers and pens.

You can access from here to our complete Privacy Policy, where we will inform you with full transparency about the purpose of this website and everything that affects the data you provide us, as well as the obligations and rights that correspond to you.

Toys can be recycled

The ballpoint pen is the most popular writing instrument worldwide. It has a loading tip, with a ball that is usually made of steel (the ball of the “boli”) that, when in contact with the paper, doses the ink that comes out as the ball rotates.

It also has a metal or plastic tube that contains the ink and a protective cover. There are a lot of colors and shapes. We can also find more or less liquid inks and there are even scented ones. And when the pen ink runs out, what do we do? Ecoembes tells you.

Yes! Ballpoint pens are recyclable. However, there are more sustainable pens, such as refillable pens. Once the ink runs out, you can buy another one and put it inside its coating so you don’t have to buy a new one.

When they are used up, writing instruments such as ballpoint pens should be taken to clean points. On the other hand, in 2011, BIC and TerraCycle joined forces in favor of recycling by offering a better alternative for recycling these products.

Recycling pens mexico

We can’t think of a better example than this to illustrate the theme of pen recycling: the writing instrument recycling program launched in collaboration with Terracycle and the world’s largest pen manufacturing and distribution giant, Bic. A program that makes it “very easy to recycle pens free of charge, taking a step forward in protecting the environment”, as explained in its terms and conditions. The initiative is aimed at associations, schools, companies and administrations, which are offered the possibility of becoming collection points for pens and other writing instruments. Individuals, for their part, can collaborate by going to these points to deposit their pens and utensils once they no longer use them, at the time of disposal. The entities that join the program, such as the City Council of Calatayud, receive points for each collection and shipment of this material for recycling, points that can be exchanged for donations to schools and other associations.

What are tires recycled for?

How many pens did you use at school? How often did you throw them away? You are at work or studying, at the bar, in a store and the pen you are using doesn’t work, you scratch hard, try to heat the ink with your mouth breath, a lighter, in the microwave, rub it with your shoe… dozens of methods that are supposed to help you, but most people just take the pen and throw it away; a new one that doesn’t give problems and walk away.

The million-dollar question is: In which container should it be thrown away? Many people answer in the yellow one, because of its high amount of plastic, but the answer is incorrect because it is not a container, it also contains metals such as the spring and other materials depending on the model. For proper recycling they should be taken to the municipal green point; there are also initiatives to generate specific recycling points, such as Terracycle for the collection of writing and drawing products such as pens, markers or correctors. If they are disposed of in the normal garbage they usually end up buried or incinerated, which would generate polluting gases.