I have PUR water filter pitcher that uses filter cartridges. Having just changed one, today I looked for some way to recycle or reuse the filters. I was surprised to learn there is no way. At least not in the U.S. (Please correct me if I’m wrong.)
I gather Brita in the UK recycles, but not in US, and PUR doesn’t at all.
It’s a bit hypocritical since they tout the environmental benefit of using filtration instead of bottle water. It does save on bottles, but look at the filter sometime. Those suckers have a lot of thick plastic plus charcoal, which, AFAIK, could be recovered and never should be put in a landfill.
So, I urge you to write to the companies that manufacture your filters and demand a recycling program. If printer ink cartridges can be recycled (mine come with a postage paid return envelope), then surely water filter cartridges can be also.
Take Back the Filter campaign to have Brita recycle in the U.S.
