Whatever journey has inspired you to better care for your body and the planet has led you to purchase a menstrual cup.

Although you’re still learning how to use it and becoming familiar with your anatomy, you feel pretty awesome. You no longer have to rely on toxic conventional feminine hygiene products. You no longer have to worry about running out of tampons or pads. And, you know you’re doing something better for our world.

Does the journey end here? Of course not! There are still things you can do to encourage a more positive world that’s not only more accepting of menstruation, but reaps the benefits of reusable products such as a menstrual cup.

Here’s how you can continue your journey into a healthier body and world for all of us!

Dispose of Your Old Products Properly

Now that you’re transitioning from non-biodegradable tampons and pads to a cup, it’s time to consider throwing away your old products.

How can you dispose of old tampons and pads you just won’t use?

First, consider donations. If you have unopened packages of these products, consider donating them to women in need: think homeless shelters, residential programs for low-income women, and food banks. Even if you have boxes that are open, you can inquire about whether certain places will accept these items.

Second, if you’re set on throwing out the products you don’t use, you can throw tampons with cardboard applicators in the trash and  recycle the packaging. Unfortunately, tampons with plastic applicators can’t be recycled because they’ve been contaminated with bodily fluids, so you’ll have to throw these out. I do urge you to consider donation first, if at all possible.

And finally, recycle the plastic packaging that these products come in. While most places won’t accept plastic items of this nature with regular recycling, you can recycle them at designated drop-off locations that accept other plastic items such as plastic bags.

Encourage Others to Use a Menstrual Cup

Now that you’ve gotten your menstrual cup, it’s time to tell others about this magical little item that helps you better manage your period.

You’ll receive some strange looks, of course. I remember first telling my friends and family about using a cup instead of tampons, which I had used for 11 years prior to first trying the cup. Many people had concerns about it being unsanitary.

(For the record, as long as you practice proper hygiene, such as washing your hands and the cup before having any contact with your body, your risk for getting an infection is pretty low).

See what happens when you tell your friends and family about the benefits of using the cup. Use their reactions as a way to encourage conversations surrounding menstruation. Knowledge is power and by encouraging others to use a cup, you can encourage a better planet.

How to Throw Away a Menstrual Cup Once It’s Time to Replace

While menstrual cups can last for years, eventually, you’ll need to replace yours. You may also have gone through a few menstrual cups trying to find your perfect fit, and now that you’ve found your perfect cup, you’d like to get rid of your old cups.

There are many ways to recycle a menstrual cup. While some companies say you can simply cut up the cup and throw it away, other companies advocate for recycling the cup.

There are recycling facilities who will take a cup that’s been properly cleaned (boiled in water) to recycle it. You can also contact your local hospital and ask about recycling medical-grade silicone. Burning the cup is also an option, as silicone is rather safe to burn; however, this will take some time so be prepared to sit by the fire for a while.

Other people advocate for reusing the cup as an ornament, for watering tiny plants, making a keychain out of it, and other crafty ideas around the house. Whatever you choose to do with your old menstrual cup, dispose of it responsibly!

Share Your Experience

By sharing your experience with the menstrual cup, you help stop the period taboo that has prevented women from collectively sharing their experience, seeking reproductive healthcare, and choosing products that are healthy for them.

Women everywhere are prevented from telling their story when it comes to menstruation. In many parts of the world, women don’t even have access to the products they need to help manage their period every month. 

By speaking about our experiences, we take one step closer to normalizing menstruation as the healthy bodily function that it is.

Tell us about your journey with the cup. We want to know how your choice to use a menstrual cup has impacted your life. How has it changed your period? Your relationships? Your health? Be part of the conversation! Use this link to share your experience.