I'd like to sign up. How do I get started?

Choose which program(s) you would like to participate in (see below), and sign up by clicking to our registration page. Once you’ve successfully filled out our registration form, you are ready to begin collecting for either of the following programs: the Natural Care Packaging Recycling Program, the Tide Free Recycling Program or the Oral Care Packaging Recycling or both. Please look for further instructions on how to proceed on those pages. EMAIL US if you have any questions or concerns.

What recycling programs do you offer?

We currently offer these programs:

1. NATURAL CARE PACKAGING RECYCLING PROGRAM: Collect 5 lbs. of ANY BRAND mouthwash bottles & caps, deodorant containers & caps, toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes & caps, soap packaging and floss containers. CLICK HERE to find out more. Packaging can be from ANY brand manufacturer. What is NOT accepted in this program? Any packaging not listed and NO AEROSOL CANS.  In order to recycle this waste stream properly, please make sure all excess product has been removed. Additionally, if you choose to rinse your product, please note that it must be completely dry prior to shipping. You cannot ship dripping packages.

For this program, you have to accumulate at least 5 lbs. of packaging before sending. If you ship a box that is less than 4 lbs. on this program to TerraCycle, Ticked Off Foundation will NOT receive any donations from… so please weigh your boxes before sending!

2. ORAL CARE PACKAGING: Collect toothpaste tubes and caps, toothpaste & toothbrush outer packaging, floss containers, and toothbrushes. CLICK HERE to find out more. Packaging can be from ANY brand manufacturer.

For this program, you have to accumulate at least 5 lbs. of packaging before sending. If you ship a box that is less than 2 lbs. on this program to TerraCycle, Ticked Off Foundation will NOT receive any donations from… so please weigh your boxes before sending!

3. TIDE FREE RECYCLING PROGRAM: Collect at least  lbs. of Tide, Gain, Dreft & Downy brand only fabric care packaging. CLICK HERE to find out more. Packaging can only be from Burt’s Bees branded product packaging.

For this program, you have to accumulate at least 1 lb. of packaging before sending. If you ship a box that is less than 2 lbs. on this program to TerraCycle, Ticked Off Foundation will NOT receive any donations from… so please weigh your boxes before sending!

You are permitted to collect for all programs but the shipments must be sorted & shipped separately. To accumulate quickly, ask friends, family, fellow Lymies.  Collect at home or your workplace, school and church.  Engage local businesses, social clubs, and Lyme support groups to donate their recycling, too.

Most of the above are traditionally considered non-recyclable items that would ordinarily be destined for the landfill.

I signed up for the E-Waste Recycling, Personal Care Recycling, Vitamin & Supplement Recycling and/or Performance Nutrition Recycling programs and don't see them anymore. What do I do?

As of October 12, 2018 we had to discontinue two of our programs — Personal Care Packaging Recycling and Performance Nutrition Packaging Recycling due to slow performance and low collection participation.

As of December 31, 2018, sponsoring company Twinlab discontinued the Supplement the Earth Recycling Program (known to us as the Vitamin & Supplement Recycling Program).

As of December 31, 2020, the sponsoring company discontinued the E-Waste Recycling Program.

If you have collected for either of these programs and don’t know what to do with your recyclables, we suggest you contact TerraCycle by clicking here to ask them if you can send your recyclables to them directly. They will direct you to the best way to dispose of this waste so that none of your collection efforts were in vain. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding!

How do I get a shipping box?

We suggest you ‘upcycle’ your boxes, meaning reuse an old box. Hold on to your Amazon boxes.  Ask around with your friends and local businesses. Big boxes are everywhere and people are happy to donate them to charity. In fact, many people struggle to dispose of large boxes so you are helping them too!  Your local grocery stores and supermarkets are usually happy to get rid of their large boxes for free.  Stores like your local ice cream shop, smoothie place, or Dunkin’ Donuts often have an endless supply of large boxes (because they receive their light-weight drink cups in them).

How do I package my shipment?

Put your recycling donations in a plastic bag before boxing them up to ensure they do not drip or leak (as this would make the package unshippable). Be certain your shipping boxes meet the minimum weight requirements per program. (While the shipment will still be recycled, you would not fund grants for Lyme patients in crisis!)  Source a box large enough to package the appropriate weight (feel free to upcycle). Tape the box closed, place the pre-paid UPS label on the outside of the box, and take to your local UPS drop-off location.

How do I get a pre-paid shipping label?

Request a pre-paid UPS shipping label please click here. PLEASE ONLY REQUEST THE EXACT AMOUNT OF LABELS YOU NEED. Over-requesting labels can get us kicked out of our programs! Also, please use the label(s) within a few days of receiving your request.

How do I ship my package?

You are shipping the package using a UPS pre-paid label. Please visit www.ups.com/dropoff to find a UPS drop-off location near you. They are usually located at most major office supply stores. Please be aware you SHOULD NOT CALL for a UPS pickup – YOU WILL BE CHARGED for this service and cannot be reimbursed. Also, you CAN NOT use the same shipping label (tracking number) more than once. This includes photocopies and printing the same label multiple times. If a duplicate label is used, your package may not arrive and they are unable to credit Ticked Off for the points earned from the additional shipments.

I want to collect but it's difficult for me to make the minimum weight for shipments. What can I do?

Ask friends to help.  Have a “Recycle Smarter Donation Night” gathering.  Reach out to fellow RFLers online.  Establish a public collection location.  Approach a local business and ask them to be a collection location.

How do I reach others who Recycle for Lyme?

Join our Facebook Group “We Recycle for Lyme“.

I know I can collect by myself but who can I collaborate with for greater impact?

COLLABORATIVE COLLECTION is by far the FASTEST way to accumulate and turn your waste streams into donations. Involve your family, friends, co-workers, local businesses, schools, Lyme support groups, your entire community. When given the opportunity to donate that requires no money and only trash, EVERYONE can help. So, get creative!

THINK BIG.  You are giving people a free way to help and anyone can participate. Perhaps your family wants to pool their collections, a school-aged child you know could start a program in their school (some even need this for credit to graduate), or your dentist can encourage his/her patients to do a “brush exchange”, recycling their old toothbrushes and getting a new one at their appointments. Do you know anyone who works at a salon? They generate A LOT of personal care waste as do beauty Vloggers. Get your Dr. to start a collection in their waiting room.  Have your health food store collect.  Speak up.  You will find that people are very excited to have a new way to help you and our cause.

How do I approach people?

You can share our posts.  You can call.  You can email.  You can PM us.  You can speak in person.  You can make videos.  Whatever works best for you.

Ultimately, you are providing people an opportunity, a new way to be charitable with no financial demand on them that offers them all sorts of excellent promotion and community awareness, now with nationwide exposure. They are helping Lyme patients in crisis, and saving the planet. WIN/WIN!  Beware, you may excite them!

We’ve made a few sample scripts available in our files section of the Facebook group “We Recycle for Lyme” for calling/messaging/in-person.

For an in-person meet up, you may want to print out our marketing materials for each program. Do this by first downloading our program PDFs and then printing them on your home printer.

– E-WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM FLYER

– NATURAL CARE RECYCLING PROGRAM FLYER

– BURT’S BEES PACKAGING RECYCLING PROGRAM FLYER

– ORAL CARE RECYCLING PROGRAM FLYER

Give the flyers to the people you approach.  Explain how easy the program is and how much it’s helping Lyme patients who need are in need, right now.  They can register right on the site and run their own collection, just as you did OR you can offer to run aspects of their collection and submission process by providing boxes or making them a “collection station” and offering to collect bags or boxes at the end of every week or month, etc. whatever works best for the two of you.

If the latter, be certain you speak to the person with the authority to make decisions and you get their express permission. Clear with them their level of involvement and confirm that they would like to be acknowledged on our social media. Exchange phone/email/etc. information and encourage them to contact you with any questions.

Please email us if you’d like us to walk you through helping others get involved.  We’re happy to help. 

What options are available for their collection?

People you approach to collect have options.

  1. They can start their own independent collection and operate just as you have.
  2. You can offer to run aspects of their collection and submission process by providing boxes, making them a “collection station” and offering to collect bags or boxes at the end of every week or month, etc.

The option is based on how much they are willing to participate and how thorough they are reviewing their collections. We often work with businesses and offer them pick-up service. We review their waste and package and ship it once we are sure they understand what is accepted. Ultimately it’s ideal to get them certain and independent as soon as possible so you can move forward to training the next donor.

How can I share my successful actions?

Take pictures, make videos, write posts, blog and share them on our Facebook page and our Facebook Group “We Recycle for Lyme.”  Please share!!!!!  WE LOVE to hear about how you are doing, what worked for you and how much fun you are having!  It makes our day.

If you have any further questions, email us at info@tickedofffoundation.org