How to Recycle Makeup and Cosmetics Packaging in Australia
The average Australian uses around 10 to 12 personal care products a day. Multiply that by 365 days and the population, and you start to see why the beauty industry generates the kind of waste mountain it does. Most of it ends up in landfill, not because people do not care but because the rules are genuinely confusing. Multi-material tubes, tiny pumps, mascara wands, foundation pipettes and lipstick bullets all behave differently in a recycling stream, and the yellow bin handles barely any of it.
This is the 2026 guide to how to recycle makeup and cosmetics packaging in Australia. We have grouped it into three sections so you can find what you need fast: the brand take-back directory (where to send your empties for specific brands), the kerbside-versus-BRAD lookup table, and a quick beauty-bag clean-out checklist for when you are ready to act.
Why most beauty packaging cannot go in the yellow bin
Beauty packaging is designed for the shelf, not for the sorter. The four issues:
- Multi-material construction. A foundation pump combines a metal spring inside a plastic barrel. A mascara tube combines plastic and nylon bristles. Lip gloss tubes mix clear plastic with rubber applicators. Standard Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) cannot separate these.
- Product residue. Even a small amount of remaining product can contaminate an entire batch of recycling.
- Size. Lip balm tubes, eyeliner pencils, mini bottles and travel-size containers fall through MRF sorting screens and end up in landfill regardless.
- Mixed plastics. Beauty packaging uses a wide variety of plastic types (PET, HDPE, PP, PVC) that require different processing streams.
The fix is purpose-built collection: brand take-back programs for specific products, BRAD for the rest, and the yellow bin only for the larger plain-plastic and plain-glass items.
The 2026 brand take-back directory
Several global beauty brands run their own in-store recycling programs in Australia. We have compiled the live programs below. Worth noting upfront: programs change, brands quietly pause incentives, and not every counter has the same level of training. Always check the brand's website before posting or driving to a store.
| Brand | Program | What they take | Reward (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAC | Back to MAC | Empty, clean MAC packaging returned in-store at any MAC counter or store. | The free-product incentive was discontinued in 2023. Returns are still recycled. |
| Mecca | Mecca M-Power and store-based recycling | Beauty empties from any brand stocked by Mecca. Check at the front desk for the current accepted-items list. | M-Power loyalty points (check current rate in-store). |
| Kiehl's | Recycle and Be Rewarded (TerraCycle partnership) | Empty Kiehl's bottles, jars and tubes returned to any Kiehl's store. | Return three empties for a deluxe sample, a bag of calendula seeds and a Kiehl's pouch. |
| L'Occitane | TerraCycle take-back | L'Occitane empties and empties from any other beauty brand, returned at L'Occitane boutiques. | 10% off your next purchase. |
| The Body Shop | Return Recycle Repeat | Empty plastic bottles, tubs, tubes and pots returned in-store. | Love Your Body Club members receive a $5 reward for returning five products. |
| Lush | Bring it Back | Lush black pots returned in-store. | Return five clean black pots for a free Fresh Face Mask. |
| Aesop | In-store recycling (no formal incentive program in Australia at time of writing) | Empty Aesop bottles and jars returned in-store at participating boutiques. | No formal incentive. |
If your brand is not on the list, that is exactly the gap BRAD is built to fill.
BRAD: the catch-all for orphan beauty packaging
The Banish Recycling and Diversion Program accepts mascara tubes, lipstick tubes, lip balm tubes, eyeliner pencils, concealer sticks, toothpaste tubes, lotion bottles and jars, hair gel tubes, face soap dispensers and more, from any brand. One label covers postage and onshore Australian recycling.
What BRAD accepts in the beauty and personal care category
Oral care
- Toothpaste tubes
- Floss containers
- Old plastic toothbrushes
- Electric toothbrush heads
Skincare and body care
- Lotion bottles, tubes, dispensers and jars
- Face soap dispensers and tubes
- Medical ointment tubes
- Hair gel tubes and caps
- Hair paste plastic jars and caps
- Shaving foam tubes (tubes only, no aerosol cans)
Colour cosmetics and makeup
- Lipstick, lip balm and lip gloss tubes
- Mascara tubes
- Eyeliner pencils and cases
- Eyeshadow tubes
- Concealer tubes and sticks
What BRAD does NOT accept in beauty
- Perfume bottles (glass or plastic)
- Nail polish bottles and nail polish remover bottles
- Makeup brushes
- Razors and razor blades (as of 31 January 2024)
- Aerosol cans (deodorant, dry shampoo, hairspray)
- Deodorant paste tins
- Sponges and applicator pads
For the most up-to-date list, the How to BRAD Downloadable Guide has a printable accepted-items page.
Common beauty items: where they go
| Item | Kerbside bin? | BRAD? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mascara tube | No | Yes | Empty and dry |
| Lipstick tube | No | Yes | Any brand |
| Toothpaste tube | No | Yes | Squeeze out and flatten |
| Plastic toothbrush | No | Yes | Any brand |
| Shampoo bottle (large, >150ml) | Often yes | Yes | Check council; BRAD always works |
| Perfume bottle (glass) | No | No | Council household hazardous waste program |
| Nail polish bottle | No | No | Hazardous; council HHW collection |
| Aerosol can | No | No | Completely empty cans to council HHW |
| Cardboard box | Yes | No | Yellow paper and cardboard bin |
| Makeup brush | No | No | Donate if good; otherwise landfill |
The beauty bag clean-out checklist
Set aside 20 minutes, a bin liner, and an empty BRAD box (or a holding container if you are collecting items to fill one later). Work through:
- Empty. Bin everything past its use-by date, anything you have not touched in a year, and anything you bought as a sample but never used.
- Sort by destination. Set up four piles: kerbside yellow bin, BRAD, brand take-back (and label which brand), red landfill bin.
- Mascara, lipstick, lip balm, concealer, eyeliner. All into the BRAD pile.
- Large shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles over 150ml. Rinse, lid off, into the yellow bin pile.
- Lids and pumps under 150ml. All into BRAD. Small lids fall through MRFs.
- Perfume, nail polish, aerosols. Into a clearly labelled bag for the next council household hazardous waste drop-off.
- Cardboard outer packaging. Straight into your kerbside paper and cardboard bin.
- Brand-specific empties. Drop into the relevant in-store program next time you are nearby.
The first clean-out fills a surprising amount of a BRAD box. Subsequent clean-outs every 6 to 12 months are far quicker.
Tips for a lower-waste beauty routine
Recycling matters, but reducing packaging in the first place matters more.
- Choose refillable or concentrated formats. Refill pouches, tablets, bare bars, solid shampoo. Less packaging means less to deal with.
- Look for certified brands. B Corporation, GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) and Climate Active certifications are independently verified rather than self-claimed.
- Buy from brands that take packaging back. See the directory above, or check the Banish brand directory for brands vetted against our sustainability credentials.
- Consolidate your BRAD box. Collect over a few months. A 2kg label fits a lot of small beauty packaging.
What happens to beauty packaging after BRAD collects it?
BRAD works with specialist Australian recyclers to process each material type. Plastic components are sorted by polymer type and reprocessed into raw plastic materials for manufacturing. Metal components are separated and smelted. The goal is to keep materials in circulation rather than sending them to landfill. Australia currently recycles less than 14% of all plastic, according to the Australian Plastics Recycling Survey. Programs like BRAD fill the gap for plastics that the mainstream system was not designed to handle.
Frequently asked questions
Can you recycle makeup packaging in Australia?
Yes, but not through your kerbside bin. Most makeup packaging requires a specialist recycling program. BRAD by Banish accepts a wide range of beauty packaging by post from anywhere in Australia, or by drop-off at the Banish Sustainability Hub in Sydney.
Which beauty brands offer recycling in Australia?
Several global brands run in-store programs, including MAC (Back to MAC), Mecca (M-Power and store recycling), Kiehl's (Recycle and Be Rewarded), L'Occitane (TerraCycle take-back), The Body Shop (Return Recycle Repeat) and Lush (Bring it Back). See the brand directory in this article for current rewards and what each program accepts.
Does BRAD accept all beauty packaging?
No. BRAD accepts mascara tubes, lipstick tubes, toothpaste tubes, lotion bottles, concealer sticks and more, from any brand. BRAD does not accept perfume bottles, nail polish, makeup brushes, razors, aerosol cans or deodorant paste tins.
Can mascara tubes be recycled?
Yes. BRAD accepts mascara tubes as part of its beauty packaging recycling program. Make sure the tube is empty before sending.
What can I do with empty perfume bottles?
BRAD does not accept perfume bottles. Check with your local council household hazardous waste program. Some Mecca stores accept perfume bottles via their TerraCycle partnership; check at the desk.
Does Mecca recycle beauty empties?
Yes. Mecca runs a store-based recycling program for empties from any brand that they stock. Drop them at the front desk and ask which items are currently accepted. Programs change so a quick in-store check is the most reliable.
How do I get started?
Work through the beauty bag clean-out checklist above. Order a BRAD Pre-Paid Box for the orphan items. Note the brand-take-back drop-offs for next time you are in store.