Pens - broken

No pens which are broken or are without ink can no longer be recycled for FREE. 

The original pen recycling scheme, sponsored by Bic and run by Terracycle,was introduced in 2011 and ended in December 2024. We signed up at the very beginning and ran a collection point until December 2023. Alongside us, many schools took part as did Rymans Brighton.We are grateful to Bic for sponsoring this scheme for 13 years. 

RECYCLING
TerraCycle still run a Writing Instruments Programme but it is NOT FREE. Instead you can purchase a bag and send your pens and other items for recycling.

• A small zero waste bag costs £27.00, a medium £38.00 and large £49.00. More details.
• Here is a list of items you can send to Terracycle in a Zero Waste bag purchased from them. 

DID YOU KNOW?

• BIC alone sells over 8 billion pens. Combine that with the many other pen manufacturers, the writing implement manufacturers and other office supply companies and you have a huge amount of potential for waste. 
• Once collected by Terracycle the pens are cleaned and sorted into their constituent parts. Each batch of different plastics will be melted down and recycled into new plastic. From there they will re-enter the production chain to find a new lease of life as other products, even new pens.