If there’s one thing you should know about me it is that I love perfumes. I have a vast collection and I love choosing from them every day. However, my perfume addiction can be expensive, which is why I love taking advantage of the Boots recycling program to get them for free using Advantage Card points I have collected. In this post I am going to share everything you need to know about the Boots recycling scheme.
What is the Boots recycling program?
The Boots recycling program is in partnership with No7, and it rewards you for recycling your empty beauty products, toiletries, baby products and more.
Simply upload 5 empty and clean products, wait for them to be accepted and once accepted you can deposit them at a participating store and get a bonus of 500 Advantage Card points when you spend £10 in store.
That means that each empty beauty product could be worth £1.
How to use the Boots recycling scheme
There are four main things that you need to know in order to make use of the Boots recycling scheme.
They are:
- You need a Boots Advantage Card to take part.
- You need to upload your empty and clean products to the Boots Recycling app ahead of time – they usually take at least 24 hours to be accepted, so you can’t do this as a spur of the moment thing.
- You must spend £10 in store to get your extra Advantage Card points.
- You don’t get £5 off your £10 spend, but instead you get £5 worth of Advantage Card points added to your Advantage Card.
Boots recycling scheme – step one
After downloading the Boots recycling app you need to empty and clean 5 products and upload them to the app.
To do this you will photograph each item within the app and then add the brand, the product type (e.g. lip balm, eye shadow) and then the form (e.g. stick, tube, etc) and submit it.
Your products will then need to be accepted, which usually takes 24 hours on weekdays and longer over weekends.
Step two – take your items to a participating Boots store
Once your products have been accepted the next step is to take your items to a participating Boots store and deposit them.
Within the store you are looking for the recycling point which is usually found near the No7 products. If you can’t find it then a member of staff can help you. The one in my store moves about regularly.
Then using the Boots recycling app, scan the code on the Recycling Point and choose which 5 products to deposit.
I like to wait until my deposit has been accepted before I put the items into the Recycling Point, as I’ve had them rejected sometimes and already deposited my items, meaning I’ve missed out on the extra points.
Step three – spend £10 within 3 days
After depositing your items you will get a voucher in the Boots recycling app which is valid for 3 days. Do not activate the voucher until you are ready to spend it because once activated it will expire after 30 minutes.
You will need to spend a minimum of £10 to get the bonus of 500 Advantage Card points worth £5.
Once you are ready to pay, activate the voucher in the Boots recycling app, and at the till scan your Advantage Card and then the voucher in the recycling app.
Step four – collect 500 Advantage Card points
Your points are now added to your Advantage Card and can be stacked up to spend at a later late. For example, on a nice new perfume.
Remember that you can’t use your points as a partial payment. This means if you want to buy something for £10 but only have £5 of points, you cannot use the £5 of points towards the purchase. Your points must meet or exceed the total value of your spend.
Related post: Beauty business name generator.
Boots Recycling Scheme – What Can You Recycle?
If you’re wondering what you can recycle with the Boots recycling scheme, the answer is so much.
Some of the items accepted include:
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Shaving gel
- Foundation
- Make up sponges
- Make up brushes
- Interdental brushes
- Lip balm
- Baby wipes
- Baby dummy
- Baby food
- Baby formula
- Bubble bath
Plus so much more. You can view the full list of items that you can recycle with the Boots recycling scheme here.
Some common items aren’t accepted, and some items need multiple of them to be accepted.
For example, some products not accepted include:
- Shower gel
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Perfume (I sell my empty bottles on eBay)
- Aerosols
- Nail polish
- Nail polish remover
- Razors
- Razor heads
- PPE
- Electrical items e.g. hairdryers
And items where you will need 5 together to count as one item include:
- Interdental brushes
- Small make up sponges
- Mini make up brushes
Is the Boots recycling scheme worth it?
I absolutely think that the Boots recycling scheme is worth doing!
I upload my items as soon as they are empty and clean, and then I pop them into a bag in my car. When I am passing Boots then I will go and recycle them and spend the £10 I need to spend on essentials like toothpaste, deodorant and shower gel. I also hold off on any make up purchases until I have a voucher to use to get my extra points.
I have saved up over £80 worth of Advantage Card points by doing this, so for me the Boots recycling program has really been worth it.
Limits to the Boots Recycling Scheme
The Boots recycling program is pretty generous but there are some limits that you need to know about.
You can only make one deposit per day, and any additional deposits will be rejected.
There is a limit of 8 deposits per calendar month, which means you can still pocket £40 worth of points per month.
Boots Recycling Scheme FAQ
What is the Boots recycling scheme?
The Boots recycling scheme is a program in partnership with No7 that rewards you for recycling empty beauty, baby, and toiletry products. By recycling, you can earn 500 Advantage Card points (worth £5) when you spend £10 in-store.
How do I get started with the Boots recycling scheme?
Download the Boots recycling app. Clean and photograph 5 empty products through the app for approval. Once approved, take them to a participating Boots store and deposit them at the Recycling Point. Spend £10 in-store to receive 500 Advantage Card points.
Do I need a Boots Advantage Card to use the scheme?
Yes, a Boots Advantage Card is required to participate. Make sure your Advantage Card is linked to the Boots recycling app.
How long does it take for items to be approved?
Approvals typically take 24 hours on weekdays. Submissions made on weekends may take longer.
What happens if my products are rejected?
Rejected products won’t count toward your recycling total. To avoid losing points, wait for your deposit to be accepted in the app before physically placing your items in the Recycling Point.
Can I recycle any item?
No, there are specific guidelines for what can and cannot be recycled. Accepted items include toothpaste, foundation, baby wipes, makeup brushes, and more. Items not accepted include shower gel, perfume, aerosols, razors, and electrical items. Some small items, like interdental brushes, require five of the same kind to count as one item. For a full list, refer to the Boots recycling app or their website.
Where can I find the Recycling Point in-store?
Recycling Points are usually located near the No7 section. If you’re unsure, ask a staff member for assistance.
What’s the value of 500 Advantage Card points?
500 Advantage Card points are equivalent to £5, which you can use to purchase items in Boots. Note that points cannot be used for partial payments—you must have enough points to cover the full cost of your purchase.
Do I need to spend £10 every time I recycle?
Yes, to claim the 500 points, you must spend £10 in-store. The voucher you receive after depositing your items is valid for three days.
What are the limits of the scheme?
One deposit per day is allowed, and only one submission will be accepted daily. You can make up to 8 deposits per calendar month, earning a maximum of 4,000 points (£40) monthly.
What should I do with items that aren’t accepted?
For items like perfume bottles, consider selling them on eBay or finding alternative recycling programs.
Is the Boots recycling scheme worth it?
Absolutely! By recycling regularly, you can accumulate significant points. Use the £10 spend requirement on essentials to maximize savings. Many participants, like me, have saved £80 or more in points while helping the environment.
What happens if I forget to use my voucher within three days?
Unfortunately, vouchers expire after three days. To avoid missing out, plan your recycling visits around shopping trips and activate the voucher only when ready to spend.
