Maya Ellison
Amazon's plastic packaging can be difficult to recycle and it is often not accepted by curbside recycling programs. This is due to the flexible plastic used in the packaging, which can get tangled in shredding machines at recycling facilities. To recycle Amazon's plastic packaging, you can take it to a plastic bag drop-off location or a designated store drop-off location that accepts plastic film. Some big box stores and supermarkets have bins for plastic bag collection near their entrances. It is important to properly recycle Amazon's plastic packaging to reduce waste and protect the environment. Amazon has also provided resources to help customers recycle their packaging, such as the Amazon sustainability website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclable Amazon packaging | Cardboard boxes, cardboard folders, packing paper, padded envelopes |
| Non-recyclable Amazon packaging | Plastic mailers, paper mailers with air bubble padding, plastic air pillows |
| Curbside recycling | Cardboard boxes, cardboard folders, packing paper, padded envelopes |
| Plastic bag drop-off | Plastic mailers, plastic air pillows |
| Garbage | Paper mailers with air bubble padding, plastic air pillows |
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What You'll Learn
Curbside recycling programs
While some cities offer curbside recycling for plastic film, it is not widely available. Amazon provides a directory to help customers find drop-off locations that accept plastic film, wrap, and bags if curbside recycling is unavailable in their area. However, it is important to note that these directories may not be exhaustive, and there may be additional options for certain regions. Darby Hoover, a senior resource specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), points out that only a small number of cities have recycling programs that accept plastic film.
Cardboard boxes are widely accepted by curbside recycling programs. To recycle cardboard boxes, it is essential to flatten them, remove any tape, and ensure they are dry and clean before placing them in the recycling bin. Packing paper, including brown packing paper, can also be recycled through most curbside programs. Amazon's air pillows, which are made of plastic film, may not be accepted by all curbside recycling programs, but they can be recycled at specific drop-off locations.
Amazon's website and the Amazon Second Chance website provide valuable resources for customers looking to recycle their packaging. The Amazon Second Chance website offers material identification codes and recycling guidance for Amazon packaging. Additionally, Amazon's website claims that certain materials may be recycled through designated drop-off centers, depending on your location. However, it is worth noting that a recent investigation by Oceana found that many of the recommended sites did not accept Amazon's plastic packaging.
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Plastic bag drop-offs
Plastic Amazon mailers can be recycled at plastic bag drop-off locations. Before dropping off your plastic packaging, make sure that it is clean and dry, and remove any paper labels as paper and adhesive can contaminate the plastic film recycling.
Some big box stores and supermarkets provide bins for plastic bag collection near the front of their stores. However, it is important to note that not all plastic Amazon packaging is recyclable. For example, paper mailers with air bubble padding are not recyclable and should be put in the garbage bin.
Amazon's website suggests that their plastic packaging may be recycled through designated drop-off centres depending on your zip code. However, an investigation by Oceana found that 41% of the recommended sites visited by their participants would not accept Amazon plastic packaging, and over 80% of stores were unclear about whether they would accept it.
In the United States, you can find a list of drop-off locations for flexible plastic packaging on the How2Recycle website. After collection, the flexible plastic is sold to independent companies and turned into tiny plastic pellets. These pellets can then be recycled into synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or directly into another film, pouch, or bag form.
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Cardboard boxes
Amazon's cardboard boxes can be recycled through most household recycling programs. In the US, these boxes can be placed straight into your curbside recycling bin. Amazon has also partnered with Give Back Box, allowing customers to donate items in their old Amazon boxes at no cost through UPS, FedEx, or USPS. Amazon will then rehome your old things to charities, and you can write off the donation on your taxes.
In the UK, Amazon is working with Clarity to support the recycling of used packaging for products delivered to customers. Cardboard inserts can be recycled as part of household recycling programs. Flatten the insert before putting it in your recycling bin.
Amazon has also expanded its packaging options to reduce waste. Machine learning helps the company determine the right-sized cardboard box for a product. In North America, this has resulted in an annual reduction in cardboard waste of 7% to 10%, saving roughly 60,000 tons of cardboard annually.
For more information on how to recycle Amazon cardboard boxes, visit Amazon's Second Chance website, which provides material identification codes and recycling guidance for customers.
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Plastic mailers
Amazon has been working to reduce its packaging waste and increase recyclability. The company has transitioned to using recyclable, paper delivery packaging and eliminating plastic delivery packaging. Amazon also offers a program called Frustration-Free Packaging, which includes products designed to ship in their own packaging without the need for additional mailers or boxes. These packages are made of 100% curbside recyclable materials.
If you receive a plastic mailer from Amazon, you can take it to a plastic bag drop-off location for recycling. Amazon's plastic mailers are typically made of flexible polyethylene-based plastics, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE, or #2 plastic) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE, or #4 plastic). Before dropping off the plastic mailers, ensure that they are clean and dry, especially if they have been in contact with food or other products that may leave behind residue.
Some cities offer curbside recycling for plastic film, but this varies by location. Amazon provides a directory to find a drop-off location that accepts compatible plastic film, wrap, and bags. However, it's important to note that not all drop-off locations may be listed on Amazon's website. Additionally, there are limited cities with recycling programs that accept plastic film.
If the plastic mailer has a layer of bubble wrap inside, it can still be brought to a plastic bag drop-off location. However, if the mailer is made of paper on the outside with bubble wrap on the inside, it cannot be recycled due to its mixed materials. In this case, you can choose to reuse the mailer or dispose of it in the garbage.
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Amazon's sustainability website
Amazon has a strong commitment to sustainability and is working to reduce its environmental impact. The company has outlined its sustainability goals and progress on its website, which provides detailed information on its initiatives and efforts in this area.
One of Amazon's key focuses is on packaging and minimizing waste. Amazon has introduced new ecologically-friendly packaging at its Fulfillment Centers, which eliminates waste and ensures products arrive undamaged. This includes paper-padded mailers, which are recyclable through curbside recycling programs, and cardboard boxes, which can also be recycled if they are clean, dry, and flattened. Amazon has also removed plastic air pillows from delivery packaging at its fulfillment centers globally.
However, some Amazon packaging, such as plastic bags and bubble-padded mailers, is not accepted by curbside recycling programs. Amazon's website directs customers to designated drop-off centers for these items, but there have been reports of these centers refusing to accept the plastic packaging. This issue has prompted calls for Amazon to cut its use of single-use plastic packaging, as it has committed to doing in Germany, India, and the UK.
Amazon is also working to reduce its carbon emissions and transition to carbon-free electricity. The company co-founded The Climate Pledge in 2019 and has committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Amazon is investing in renewable energy sources, with many of its warehouses powered by on-site solar panels, and has ordered 100,000 fully-electric delivery vehicles.
The company is also utilizing digital technology and cross-industry collaboration to support sustainability-focused innovation. This includes projects to improve reporting on pollution data, counter illegal dumping, and protect endangered species. Amazon offers trade-in and recycling programs for its devices and certain eligible devices from other manufacturers. Additionally, Amazon provides a Climate Pledge Friendly program to help customers in the US and EU discover and shop for more sustainable products.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Amazon plastic packaging cannot be recycled from home. It must be taken to a plastic bag drop-off point.
Plastic bag drop-off points are usually located at big box stores and supermarkets.
The plastic film is melted down and turned into materials such as composite lumber, used to make decks, playgrounds, and park benches.
Yes, Amazon cardboard boxes can be recycled. Flatten the box, remove any tape, and put it in your recycling bin.
