Day 230 – Nail polish is another one of those things that I do not use, but have daughters that do. So, looking into what to do with half used bottles was on the to-do-list. I’m sure many think it’s alright to throw nail polish bottles in the trash. However, the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) considers nail polish to be a household hazardous waste (HHW) due to the toxic chemicals found in nail polish. So, throwing bottles in the trash or pouring unused polish down the drain is not an option.

Chicago residents can drop off nail polish at the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility, located at 1150 N. North Branch Street. Check out their website for days and times of operation. You can also click HERE to see a full list of other household chemicals they accept. You can also read about what happens to items taken to the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility by clicking HERE.

For those outside of Chicago, you can enter your ZIP code into Earth911’s recycling search directory to find your nearby HHW facility.

If you’re looking to replace your nail polish with more eco-friendly brands check out the companies below.

Habit – Habit is a black-owned and female-founded vegan cosmetics brand based in the U.S. All of their nail polish is vegan and sustainably made in the US. Their luxurious nail polish bottles are sustainably packaged with a removable bamboo cap and all of the plastic components are made with recycled plastic materials.

Dazzle Dry – Dazzle Dry is based in the US and they continuously strive to adopt more sustainable and ethical practices. They currently uses eco-conscious materials like biodegradable packing peanuts. With every purchase made, a tree is planted in partnership with WeForest.

Base Coat – Base Coat is located in Denver, Colorado. All Base Coat products are formulated to be as clean as possible by cutting out toxins and using plant-based ingredients whenever they can. They also cut down on unnecessary packaging and use recycled, compostable materials to reduce their impact on the environment.

Elle – All of Elle Polish are Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and vegan. Elle Polish also offers a recycling program where you can send in 5 empty elle polish bottles to be recycled and in return, you’ll get a special edition polish.

Jolie Vegan – Vegan and cruelty free nail polish made in the U.S. Jolie Vegan also gives back. With every purchase, they donate a portion of their sales to charitable organizations such as Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Rooted Woman – Rooted Woman is a black-owned business that offers cruelty-free, gluten free nail polish which is made in the U.S. Rooted Woman curates non-toxic and ethically sourced nail polish.

Tenoverten – A vegan and cruelty-free brand made in the U.S. Tenoverten contains horsetail leaf extract, essential oils, vitamin E and aloe to care for and protect nails. It can be found at Target.

So, if you happen to have environmentally unfriendly nail polish, be sure to dispose of it responsibly. And the next time you’re ready to pick up a new bottle, be sure to check out a more friendly option.

Tomorrow, the best and worst cars emitting carbon dioxide emissions.