Cotton Wool Recycling

Cotton wool is made of the seed hairs from the cotton plant. These are silky fibres taken in their raw condition from cotton plants. The fibres are composed of approximately:

• 87 to 90% cellulose
• 4 to 6% natural impurities
• 5 to 8% water

Seed hairs from cotton plants are harvested and any impurities, such as the actual seeds, are extracted. Then the cotton is bleached using sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide. Finally, the cotton is sterilised that creates the soft cotton wool material that’s formed into pads, buds, or balls.

Cotton wool is not recyclable. There are a few reasons for this – mainly because once it’s used it may be contaminated with other materials or elements it absorbs. These are impossible or incredibly difficult to remove from the cotton wool, such as makeup, liquids, and chemicals. Therefore, cotton wool should not go in any recycling bin.

Technically, clean, dry, and unused cotton wool is biodegradable as it’s made from 100% cotton. This is a natural fibre that will break down and decompose. However, most cotton wool isn’t biodegradable or recyclable as it’s contaminated with other materials or treated with non-biodegradable substances.

This means things like used cotton wool pads are not biodegradable once used. The only kind of cotton wool that is biodegradable is if it’s 100% clean, dry, and untreated. However, it’s rare that you need to get rid of fresh cotton wool – unless you run a shop or business with excess stock that’s untouched.

To dispose of cotton wool you should place it in your household rubbish bin at home or a general waste bin in your business. Sadly, cotton wool is not recyclable so should not go in any other bin. You also can’t really clean and reuse it, so disposing with other non-recyclable waste is the safest option.

Most cotton wool isn’t compostable, as while it’s a natural fibre, cotton wool becomes contaminated quickly when used. This could be with the likes of facial toner, nail polish remover, or mascara. Cotton wool should not be flushed down the toilet as it may expand when put in water, which can cause blockages.

When cotton wool is collected alongside general waste, it will either end up in landfill, be incinerated, or sent to an energy from waste (EfW) facility. It depends on who collects your general waste and their processes. At Business Waste, we keep all waste away from landfill where possible, so strive to use EfW and incineration.

There are various other materials you can use as an alternative to cotton wool that are more sustainable. These include:

• Recycled polyester, cotton, or wool
• Organic cotton
• Hemp products
• Responsible wool
• Silk

Cotton wool has become a well-used household staple for many of us. The cotton is often picked, packaged, and transported from far away to the UK – so lots of energy and time goes into producing it. And as cotton wool cannot be recycled it’s not the most sustainable material to use.

Plus, it takes approximately 20,000 litres of water to create 1kg of cotton. This is equivalent to a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, or almost six months of water for the regular person. Cotton farming is also the reason we have 24% of insecticides worldwide.

Cotton wool cleansing pads often used in makeup routines are incredibly versatile. However, they’re not disposable, making them wasteful and harmful to the environment.

A few key facts about cotton and cotton wool are that:

• China and India are the largest producers of cotton – contributing to almost half of the world’s production.
• Cotton seeds have dated back to around 450 BC.
• There’s no waste as all the cotton plant is used. Seeds can create animal feed and cottonseed oil, while the stalks are tilled back into the soil.
• Cotton seeds are planted in the spring and harvested in autumn.
• Cotton fibre is made up of a natural polymer called cellulose. The human body cannot digest cellulose, whereas horses and cattle can.

Cotton wool was first imported to the UK in the 16^th century when it was made from a combination of yarn or linen. By 1750, the production of cotton cloths was taking place alongside the import of raw cotton.

A US-born inventor named Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1794. This was a machine that changed the way cotton was produced by removing the cotton seeds from cotton fibre. This significantly sped up the production of cotton. In 1880 Dr Joseph Sampson Gamgee invented Gamgee Tissue – a cotton wool and gauze surgical dressing.