How to dispose of Cleanery packaging
Cleanery refills are made of a foil film that uses 99% less packaging than the equivalent single-use bottle. The empty refill packet can be recycled through participating soft plastics collections where available. It cannot go in kerbside recycling.
Disposal instructions by country
New Zealand
You can drop our sachets into any soft plastics recycling point around New Zealand. If this is not available to you, please email us on hello@cleanery.co.nz and we will send you a pre-paid envelope to return your refill packaging collection to us and we will see it safely recycled.
Store Locator for soft plastics drop offs
Alternatively, if there is no collection available in your area, put the empty refill in your general waste.
Australia
Soft plastics collection is available at participating stores across parts of Australia.
Make sure your refill is empty, clean and dry, then check for a collection point near you. If there is no collection available in your area, put the empty refill in your general waste.
USA
Cleanery refills are not accepted in most kerbside recycling programmes.
Where eligible soft plastic or film packaging is accepted, take the empty, clean and dry refill to a participating store drop-off. Check the instructions at your local collection point before recycling it.
If no suitable collection is available, put the empty refill in your general waste.
Rest of World
Please dispose of refill sachets in soft plastics drop off points where they are available. Many grocery stores will have these.
Soft plastics are not kerbside recyclable, so if you do not have a drop off point available to you please dispose of them with your general waste.
Why did you choose this packaging?
One of the most frequent questions we are asked at Cleanery.
In short, the powder needs to stay dry, contained and protected until it reaches your bottle. The lightweight film provides the moisture barrier the concentrated product requires and is child safe.
Each refill weighs around 1 gram and uses 99% less packaging than the equivalent single-use bottle.
Our scientists worked closely with some of New Zealand’s leading sustainable packaging experts to establish what option would have the lowest environmental impact while also being highly functional.
Packaging FAQs
Can I put my empty Cleanery refill packet into kerbside recycling?
No. Cleanery refill packets need to go through a participating soft plastics collection where available, or be placed in with your general waste.
What should I do if there is no soft plastics collection near me?
Follow the disposal advice for your country above. In New Zealand, you can contact us at hello@cleanery.co.nz for a prepaid return envelope.
Why did you not choose compostable packaging?
A key decision was whether to go for compostable or recyclable packaging.
It is a common misconception that compostable packaging is the best or most sustainable option, but the reality is that it is often not. The Ministry of Environment’s recent findings[1] around compostable packaging provide an extensive overview of the many challenges around compostable packaging. These include:
- The majority do not have home compost systems or access to compost systems (either home or commercial). This means compostable materials most often end up in landfill.
- Compostable packaging is often incorrectly placed into recycling bins by consumers – as they cannot be recycled, they often contaminate recycling collections leading to it all going to landfill rather than being recycled. Massive own goal.
- Limited infrastructure to process compostable materials. Commercial composting facilities – where they are even available – don’t want to be dealing with packaging. They are set up for food scraps and organic waste and because they can’t sort compostable from normal packaging it all goes to landfill.
- And finally, even if the packaging finds its way into a compost bin or commercial composter, it has no nutritional value and adds nothing positive to compost or soil.
While there are some benefits to compostable packaging in the right and very specific setting, it was clear that this was not a suitable route for cleaning products.
Having ruled out compostable packaging, we opted to select plastic that had the opportunity to be repurposed and reused again through Soft Plastic Recycling Schemes.
[1]Ministry for the Environment. 2022. Compostable products: Ministry for the Environment position statement. Wellington: Ministry for the Environment. https://environment.govt.nz/assets/publications/compostables-packaging-position-statement.pdf
Are you looking at other packaging options?
Yes. We continue to assess packaging options that can protect the powder while reducing material use and improving end-of-life options.
99% less plastic waste, 99% lower emissions, and no bottle in the bin.
We are always happy to answer questions around our packaging and products. Please reach out to the team on hello@cleaneryonline.com if you have questions