Tissue Boxes Put in Recycling Cart/Bin Never Flush Tissues Down Drain While tissue boxes are recyclable, tissues are not and should go in the garbage cart. Never flush tissues down the drain because they do not break down like toilet paper. Instead, tissues will go on to clog screens at the regional wastewater facility. Only Empty Boxes Tissue boxes are made out of cardboard, so they can be recycled alongside larger cardboard packages. Find out more. Remove the Plastic Liners Tissue boxes often contain plastic liners; remove the plastic liners to reduce contamination, and then recycle the empty boxes with cardboard. Ways to Reduce Use a Handkerchief Consider purchasing a few washable handkerchiefs, so you can use them instead of tissues, which end up in landfills. Buy Eco-Friendly Brands At the store, look for brands that use a greater percentage of recycled paper in making their tissue paper. Brands that make tissues with 80 percent or more recycled paper include Green Forest, Seventh Generation, 365 (Whole Foods), Natural Value, Earth Friendly and Trader Joe’s. Ways to Reuse Plastic Bag Holder Store loose plastic bags in an empty tissue box, and keep the box under the sink, so you can keep these bags in reach. Collect and Store Money An empty tissue box is an excellent makeshift collection box for deposits and small bills. Craft it into a deposit box for a bake sale, charity event or tip jar. Did You Know? Not Originally for Noses Kleenex facial tissue was invented in 1924, but it wasn’t intended to replace handkerchiefs. Instead, facial tissue was created to remove cold cream. People started using facial tissue to blow their noses on their own.
