Salons consume large volumes of recyclable materials daily, including plastic product bottles, glass containers, aluminum foil, cardboard shipping boxes, paper, and metal aerosol cans. Without a recycling program, all of these materials go to landfill, increasing waste disposal costs and environmental impact. However, salon recycling presents unique challenges because many recyclable materials are contaminated with chemical residue that may disqualify them from recycling unless properly prepared. Training staff on which materials can be recycled, how to prepare them for recycling, and where to place them ensures that the salon's recycling program is effective rather than aspirational.
The most common failure in salon recycling is contamination. A plastic shampoo bottle placed in the recycling bin with product residue inside contaminates the recycling stream and may cause the entire bin to be rejected and sent to landfill. An aluminum foil sheet used for hair highlights and coated with hair color is not recyclable in its contaminated state. A cardboard box that has absorbed chemical spills is no longer recyclable. When contaminated materials are placed in recycling bins, they do not get recycled. They contaminate other clean recyclables in the same bin, potentially causing the entire load to be diverted to landfill.
This contamination problem leads many salons to abandon recycling entirely, reasoning that if most salon waste cannot be recycled in its used state, the effort is not worthwhile. However, with proper training on preparation techniques, a significant portion of salon recyclables can be recovered. Rinsing product containers takes seconds and converts a contaminated non-recyclable into a clean recyclable. Separating clean foil from chemically treated foil allows the clean portion to be recycled. Breaking down cardboard boxes and keeping them dry maintains their recyclability.
The financial impact of proper recycling can be meaningful for a small business. Many waste management companies charge less for recycling pickup than trash pickup. Reducing the volume of general trash by diverting recyclables to the recycling stream can reduce the frequency of trash pickups and the associated cost. Some municipalities require commercial recycling and may impose penalties on businesses that do not comply.
Many states and municipalities require commercial businesses to participate in recycling programs, with specific requirements varying by jurisdiction regarding which materials must be recycled and the minimum diversion rate.
Local waste management ordinances define which materials are accepted in the recycling stream, contamination standards, and collection procedures that businesses must follow.
Some states have extended producer responsibility laws that require manufacturers to take back specific packaging materials, which may affect how salons dispose of certain product containers.
State and local green building or sustainability requirements may apply to salon buildouts and renovations, including waste diversion requirements during construction.
EPA encourages commercial recycling through guidance documents and voluntary programs but does not mandate recycling at the federal level for most materials.
Check your salon's hygiene score instantly with our free assessment tool →
Recycling reflects the environmental responsibility that the MmowW assessment evaluates.
Check whether your salon has clearly labeled recycling containers separate from general trash. Ask your waste management provider which materials they accept for recycling. Observe whether staff are placing recyclable items in the trash or in the recycling bin. Estimate the percentage of your salon's waste that is currently recycled versus sent to landfill.
Use our free tool to check your salon compliance instantly.
Try it free →Step 1: Determine Local Recycling Requirements and Capabilities
Contact your waste management provider and local recycling authority to determine exactly which materials are accepted for recycling in your area, what preparation is required, and whether any salon-specific materials such as color tubes or foils have special recycling options. Recycling acceptance varies significantly by location. Some programs accept all numbered plastics while others only accept specific types. Some accept aerosol cans while others do not. Some accept aluminum foil while others exclude it due to contamination concerns. Understanding exactly what your local program accepts prevents the frustration of sorting materials that end up in landfill anyway and focuses staff effort on materials that will actually be recycled.
Step 2: Identify Recyclable Materials in Your Salon
Walk through the salon and identify every material that enters the waste stream and determine its recyclability based on your local program's requirements. Common salon recyclables include HDPE and PET plastic bottles from shampoo, conditioner, and styling products. Glass bottles from salon products and retail items. Cardboard boxes from product shipments and supply deliveries. Paper including appointment sheets, receipts, and office paper. Aluminum including clean foil and aerosol cans. Metal including empty color tubes if accepted locally. Common non-recyclable salon waste includes chemically contaminated materials, mixed-material packaging that cannot be separated, soiled paper towels, and hair clippings. Create a reference list specific to your salon and your local recycling program that staff can consult when uncertain.
Step 3: Set Up a Recycling Station
Designate a recycling station in the back-of-house area where staff prepare recyclable materials before placing them in collection bins. The station should include a sink for rinsing product containers, a surface for breaking down cardboard, containers sorted by material type if your program requires source separation, and a posted reference guide showing which items go where. Place small recycling collection containers at each workstation for items that accumulate during services, such as empty product bottles and clean foil. Staff empty these into the main recycling station at the end of each shift. Position the recycling station near the general waste area so that sorting becomes part of the normal waste disposal workflow rather than a separate inconvenient task.
Step 4: Train on Material Preparation
The key to successful salon recycling is proper preparation of materials before they enter the recycling stream. Rinse all product containers with water to remove residual product. Containers do not need to be spotlessly clean, but visible product residue should be removed. Remove pumps and spray triggers from bottles, as these are typically made from mixed materials that are not recyclable. Flatten plastic bottles and cardboard boxes to reduce volume. Remove foil from hair highlighting that is clean and uncontaminated with color and recycle it separately. Foil contaminated with hair color is generally not recyclable due to chemical residue. Empty aerosol cans completely before recycling, as cans with remaining product may be considered hazardous waste. Keep paper and cardboard dry, as wet paper and cardboard are not recyclable.
Step 5: Explore Specialty Recycling Programs
Several programs exist specifically for salon materials that are not accepted in standard municipal recycling. TerraCycle partners with salon product brands to collect and recycle items that would otherwise go to landfill, including color tubes, product packaging, and other salon-specific waste. Some hair color manufacturers offer take-back programs for empty color tubes. Local beauty schools or art programs may accept clean used materials for educational purposes. Metal recycling facilities may accept aluminum color tubes even when municipal programs do not. Research which specialty programs are available in your area and participate in those that are practical for your salon's volume and location.
Step 6: Track and Improve Recycling Performance
Measure the volume or weight of recyclables collected each month compared to the total waste generated. Set a recycling rate goal and track progress toward it. Many municipalities offer recycling audits for commercial businesses at no cost, providing specific recommendations for improving diversion rates. Review the contents of your general trash periodically to identify recyclable materials that are being discarded rather than recycled, and address the cause, whether it is a training gap, a missing container, or a preparation barrier. Share recycling performance data with staff to maintain engagement and recognize progress. As your program matures, look for additional waste reduction opportunities including product purchasing decisions that favor recyclable or reduced packaging.
Clean aluminum foil that has not been contaminated with hair color or other chemicals is generally recyclable, although some local programs exclude foil due to its tendency to ball up and jam sorting equipment. Check with your local recycling provider. For foil that has been used with hair color, the chemical contamination typically disqualifies it from standard recycling. However, some specialty recycling programs and metal recyclers accept contaminated aluminum foil for metal recovery. If clean foil recycling is not available locally, some salons collect clean foil in bulk and deliver it to metal recyclers who accept foil separately. The practical approach is to separate clean foil from contaminated foil during use, recycling the clean portion and disposing of the contaminated portion as waste or through a specialty recycling program if available.
Empty aerosol cans that are completely depressurized are recyclable as metal in most municipal recycling programs. The key requirement is that the can must be completely empty and depressurized. Press the nozzle until no product or propellant is released. Do not puncture or crush the can to release remaining pressure, as this can cause injury and may release hazardous propellant chemicals. Remove the plastic cap if your recycling program requires it. If the aerosol can is not completely empty and cannot be fully depressurized through normal use, it may be classified as hazardous waste due to the pressurized container and chemical contents. In this case, it should be disposed of through your salon's chemical waste or hazardous waste disposal program rather than placed in the recycling bin.
Yes. Even small-volume recycling provides measurable benefits. A typical salon that uses 20 to 30 product bottles per week diverts hundreds of containers from landfill annually through recycling. Cardboard from weekly supply deliveries can amount to significant volume over a year. The cumulative environmental impact of recycling these materials, including reduced raw material extraction, manufacturing energy savings, and landfill space conservation, is meaningful even at small scale. From a business perspective, reducing general waste volume may allow the salon to downsize its waste collection service, saving money. Many clients value environmental responsibility and notice whether a salon recycles, making a visible recycling program a modest but real competitive differentiator.
Recycling procedure training reduces your salon's environmental footprint while demonstrating the responsibility that clients increasingly expect. Evaluate your environmental practices with the free hygiene assessment tool and access resources at MmowW Shampoo. 安全で、愛される。 Loved for Safety.
Try it free — no signup required
Open the free tool →MmowW Shampoo integrates compliance tools, documentation, and team management in one place.
Start 14-Day Free Trial →No credit card required. From $29.99/month.
Loved for Safety.
Não deixe a regulamentação te parar!
Ai-chan🐣 responde suas dúvidas de conformidade 24/7 com IA
Experimentar grátis