Send used toothbrushes to Napier Central School - not the landfill

Students from Napier Central School are diverting the Napier community's oral care waste for their chance to win a recycled community garden set/ Photo Supplied

Don't send your old toothbrush to landfill, send it to Napier Central School instead.

The students are encouraging the Napier community to divert oral waste care from their rubbish bins for their chance to win one of two recycled community garden sets, as part of a national recycling competition run by Colgate and global recycling pioneers TerraCycle.

The competition runs from August 1 to November 16 2018 where Colgate has invited pre-primary and secondary schools nationwide to collect all brands of oral care waste.

Colgate has a partnership with TerraCycle to recycle unwanted toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, dental floss containers, and the packaging those items come in.

It's then sent to TerraCycle, who will give the waste a second life by creating different products.

On top of oral-care waste, the school is also collecting "The Collective Suckies" pouches and yoghurt tubs in "The Collective Suckies Recycling Programme" which rewards the school with $1.00 per kilogram of yoghurt pouch waste recycled.

If their campaign is successful, two recycled community garden sets will be awarded to two schools. Each set includes a garden bed, one park bench, a bin and a $300 gardening voucher to buy seeds and plants.

Sonia Bauerfield from Napier Central School said joining the Colgate Community Garden Challenge has given the students more opportunity to set their own sustainability challenges.

"As a teacher, I'm always looking to give the children opportunities to care for our planet," she said.

The school is encouraging the Napier community to drop their used oral care at Napier Central School to be recycled.

Colgate Vice President and General Manager of South Pacific said she was thrilled that the school was taking part.

"Colgate is thrilled to partner with TerraCycle to give kids the opportunity to win a recycled garden set while reducing landfill.

General Manager of TerraCycle Australia Jean Bailliard said they also wanted to encourage the idea of waste prevention from a young age.

"At Terracycle, we want to 'Eliminate the Idea of Waste' and a perfect place to start is with schools.

"We want to thank the kids at Napier Central School for their amazing recycling work and wish them the best in the competition."

The Hawke's Bay community can vote for the school everyday at www.terracycle.co.nz/colgategardenvoting.