Alexei Volkov
Plastic shipping mailers are a common feature of online shopping, but what happens to them once your order has arrived? Many people are unsure of how to recycle these materials, and they often end up in the trash. However, plastic mailers can be recycled and reused, reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and helping to create eco-friendly products. So, how can you recycle plastic shipping mailers?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Yes, but it requires extra effort |
| Ways to recycle | Flatten them out, remove any labels, and bring them to a recycling bin at a participating store |
| Store drop-off locations | Select locations of grocery and retail chains like Target, Walmart, Safeway, and Kroger |
| Online resources | How2Recycle, Earth911, plasticfilmrecycling.org |
| Accepted by curbside recycling programs? | Rarely, as they can entangle recycling machinery |
| Recycled into | Synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or recycled into another film, pouch, or bag form |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic mailers are recyclable
Before dropping off your plastic mailers, check for a recycling symbol to identify the plastic type. Remove any paper labels from the mailers, which can contaminate the plastic recycling and make the sorting process easier. Also, ensure that your mailers are clean and dry.
If you have a paper mailer lined with bubble wrap, you can recycle the wrap by cutting it from the mailer and recycling it separately. You can recycle bubble wrap at participating stores, such as Target.
Amazon, a major user of plastic mailers, has acknowledged the difficulty of recycling for customers. They offer a program called Frustration-Free Packaging, which ships products in recyclable packaging made from right-sized, sustainable materials. Amazon also provides a directory to find drop-off locations that accept compatible plastic film, wrap, and bags if your city does not have a curbside recycling program for film.
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How to prepare mailers for recycling
Preparing plastic shipping mailers for recycling is simple but important to get right. Firstly, it's important to note that most curbside recycling programs do not accept mailers as they can entangle recycling machinery. Therefore, it is best to take your plastic mailers to a recycling drop-off point at a participating store. Many grocery stores and big-box retailers accept plastic bags and will also take other types of plastic bags, including shipping mailers. Examples of stores that accept plastic mailers include Home Depot, Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Safeway, and Kroger.
Before taking your mailers to a drop-off location, there are a few important steps to follow. Firstly, make sure your mailers are clean and dry. If they have had contact with food or another product that may leave residue, be sure to clean the mailer before recycling. Secondly, remove any paper shipping labels from the mailers by peeling or cutting them out and disposing of them in the trash. This is important as paper labels can contaminate the plastic recycling process. Finally, flatten your mailers before taking them to the recycling bin.
It is also worth checking with your local curbside recycling program about their specific regulations for flexible #2 or #4 plastic, as some may accept certain types of plastic mailers. You can find the closest store to you using Earth911's search locator (filtering for #2 or #4 plastic) or How2Recycle's directory.
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Where to recycle plastic mailers
Plastic mailers can be recycled at specific locations, but it is important to check with your local service provider regarding what is accepted. Curbside recycling programs differ between regions and even zip codes.
Plastic mailers cannot be recycled with other recyclable materials at regular recycling centers. Instead, they can be stored with other plastic grocery or retail bags and brought to a store that accepts plastic bags for recycling. Many grocery stores that offer to recycle grocery bags will also accept other types of plastic bags.
Grocery and retail chains like Target, Walmart, Safeway, and Kroger collect plastic bags/wraps for recycling at select locations nationwide. To find the drop-off locations nearest to you, check https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/ and enter your zip code.
Before dropping off your plastic mailers, make sure they are clean and dry, and remove any paper shipping labels by cutting them out and disposing of them in the trash.
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Curbside recycling programs
First and foremost, check with your local curbside recycling program to understand their specific guidelines. Each municipality has different recycling capabilities. Some programs might only accept paper and aluminum, and rigid plastics, while others may take a wider range of materials like paper, cardboard, metals, glass, and certain plastics. Knowing what your local program accepts is crucial to ensure you don't contaminate the recycling stream.
If your curbside program accepts plastic shipping mailers, prepare them for recycling by removing any paper shipping labels. Cut out or peel off the labels and dispose of them in the trash. This step is important because paper labels can interfere with the plastic recycling process. Additionally, ensure that your mailers are clean and dry before placing them in the recycling bin.
When placing plastic shipping mailers in your curbside bin, consider the potential for entanglement with recycling machinery. Plastic bags, wraps, and films can cause issues in the recycling process, so it's generally recommended to avoid including them in your curbside recycling. Instead, look for specific drop-off locations that accept these materials.
Some companies, like PAC Worldwide, offer curbside recyclable products, such as their Ecojacket® mailers. These mailers are third-party verified to be recyclable through curbside programs, giving you a more convenient and environmentally friendly option.
Remember, the availability and specifics of curbside recycling programs can vary depending on your region and even your zip code. Always refer to the guidelines provided by your local program to ensure you're recycling plastic shipping mailers correctly and responsibly.
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Retailers that accept plastic mailers
Plastic mailers can be recycled by many groceries or big-box stores that accept plastic bags, which are made from the same type of plastic. Most curbside recycling programs do not accept mailers as they can entangle recycling machinery. However, many stores and retail centers are now acting as collection points for this type of plastic.
- Home Depot
- Whole Foods
- Target
- Walmart
- Safeway
- Kroger
Before dropping off your plastic mailers, it is important to ensure that they are clean and dry, and that any paper shipping labels have been removed. You can find the closest store that accepts plastic mailers for recycling using Earth911's search locator or How2Recycle's directory.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic shipping mailers are recyclable. However, they often require special attention and cannot be recycled with other plastics.
Plastic shipping mailers can be recycled by many groceries or big-box stores that accept plastic bags. Examples of stores that accept plastic mailers in drop-off bins include Home Depot, Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Safeway, and Kroger. Before dropping off your plastic mailers, make sure they are clean and dry, and remove any paper shipping labels.
Most curbside recycling programs do not accept plastic bags or mailers as they can entangle recycling machinery. However, some cities have curbside recycling programs for plastic film, and Amazon provides a directory to find a drop-off location for compatible plastic film if your city does not have such a program.
After collection, the flexible plastic is baled and sold to independent companies. They are then turned into tiny plastic pellets, which can be recycled into synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or directly into another film, pouch, or bag form.
