Can You REALLY Recycle OURFoil once It's been used? Yes

Can You REALLY Recycle OURFoil once It's been used? Yes — And Here’s Why You Should

In the world of hairdressing, foils are a must-have. From highlights to balayage, they help us create the magic our clients love. But once the colour is processed and rinsed, those little sheets of aluminum usually end up in the bin — and straight into a landfill.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Recycling hair foils is one of the easiest and most impactful ways salons can reduce waste and become more eco-friendly. Here's everything you need to know about why it matters — and how to do it right.

The Problem With Tossing Foils

Most salons go through hundreds of foils a week. Multiply that by thousands of salons worldwide, and it adds up to a huge amount of aluminum waste. The sad truth? Aluminum foil can take between 100 to 500 years to decompose in a landfill. — but it’s infinitely recyclable if handled properly.

Good News: OUR Foils Can Be Recycled

Aluminum foil used in hair salons is typically made from the same recyclable material as food-grade foil. The key difference? It's often covered in dye, bleach, or toner. While that residue might seem like a recycling roadblock, most facilities can handle it — as long as you prep the foil properly.

How to Recycle Hair Foils the Right Way

✅ Let the foils dry first  
You don’t need to rinse them perfectly clean (most recycling plants can manage a bit of residue), but letting them dry out and shaking off any excess product helps.

✅ Don’t crumple them into tiny balls- large foil balls are fine!
Keep them flat or lightly stacked. When foil is crumpled too tightly, it can be too small to be sorted at the recycling facility.

✅ Separate foils from other waste
Set up a dedicated foil bin in your colour area so they don’t get mixed in with general trash.

✅ Find a recycling facility that accepts salon foil
Not all curbside programs will take aluminum foil — especially if it’s been used. Call your local recycling center or check with salon sustainability programs that handle salon-specific waste.

Bonus Tip: Use Salon-Specific Recycling Programs

Eco-focused initiatives like https://sustainablesalons.org or https://refoil.com.au offer professional salon waste recycling services. These programs can handle everything from foils to colour tubes to excess chemicals, keeping tons of waste out of landfills every year.

Why This Matters

Recycling hair foils might feel like a small action, but when done at scale — across a salon, a city, or an entire industry — it makes a real impact. Going green doesn’t mean compromising on your craft. It just means thinking differently about what happens after the service is done.


Need help finding foil recycling options in your area? Or curious about switching to eco-friendly foils? Drop us a message — we love connecting salons with sustainable solutions.