Sofia Martinez
Bubble wrap is constructed from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is categorised as Resin Identification Code (RIC) #4. Harder plastics are categorised as RIC 1 and 2 and are the only plastics that can be left for kerbside collection. As a result, bubble wrap cannot be recycled with other plastics and must be recycled at a special drop-off location.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclable | Yes |
| Curbside recycling | No |
| Recycling bin | No |
| Recycling center | Yes |
| Drop-off locations | Yes |
| Reuse | Yes |
| Recycle with other plastics | No |
| Recycle paper wrapping separately | Yes |
| Recycle with plastic bags | Yes |
| Recycle with plastic wraps | Yes |
| Recycle with plastic films | Yes |
| Recycle with soft plastics | Yes |
| Recycle with stretchy plastic bags | Yes |
| Recycle with plastic shipping packaging | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Bubble wrap is recyclable but not in the same way as other plastics
- It is made from low-density polyethylene, categorised as RIC #4
- It cannot be left for kerbside collection or taken to a neighbourhood recycling facility
- It should be separated from hard plastics and put with other soft plastics
- It can be recycled at some retail stores
Bubble wrap is recyclable but not in the same way as other plastics
Bubble wrap is technically recyclable, but it is not as simple as putting it in your recycling bin and leaving it for collection. This is because bubble wrap is made from low-density polythene (LDPE), which is categorised as Resin Identification Code (RIC) #4. Harder plastics, like water bottles, are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which are classified as RICs 1 and 2. Most recycling equipment is designed to handle these harder plastics, so bubble wrap and other soft plastics are excluded from municipal recycling programs.
Soft plastics can easily clog up large recycling machines and cause malfunctions or even injury to sanitation technicians, costing time and money. As a result, bubble wrap often ends up in landfills, where it will take thousands of years to break down. However, there are some ways to ensure your bubble wrap doesn't end up in a landfill.
Firstly, it is important to separate bubble wrap from other plastic recyclables. If you have a bubble-wrap-lined envelope, for example, you should break it down into its parts (bubble wrap and paper) and recycle each part accordingly. You can also reuse bubble wrap for packaging, shipping, or a gift-wrapping project. If you are unable to reuse it yourself, you could give it away on Facebook Marketplace or to a local zero-waste group.
If you want to recycle your bubble wrap, you will need to locate a recycling centre that deals specifically with this type of plastic. Some retail stores and drop-off centres accept plastic film packaging for recycling, and there are also companies that specialise in recycling plastic film, such as Terracycle. Before delivering your bubble wrap to a recycling centre, make sure that all the air bubbles are popped.
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It is made from low-density polyethylene, categorised as RIC #4
Bubble wrap is constructed from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), categorised as RIC #4. LDPE is a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene, which is the same base material as HDPE. However, LDPE has a lower density, making it more malleable and flexible than HDPE. LDPE is also known for its toughness, relative transparency, and resistance to acids, bases, and oils.
LDPE is recyclable, but it is not accepted by most curbside recycling programs. This is because LDPE is a soft plastic that can jam sorting machines at recycling facilities. Harder plastics like milk jugs, water and soda bottles, and shampoo and detergent bottles are typically the only plastics that can be recycled through curbside collection. These harder plastics are categorised as RICs 1 and 2, and most recycling equipment was designed to handle these types of plastics.
LDPE is classified as RIC #4, and it is important to check if your local authority accepts this type of plastic. If they do, you can recycle LDPE through your curbside recycling program. However, some locations only accept rigid LDPE, so it is important to check with your local authority. If your local curbside recycling program does not accept LDPE, you can take it to a store drop-off location or a specialist recycler.
When recycling LDPE, it is important to prepare the material properly. Make sure to pop all the air bubbles in the bubble wrap before delivering it to the recycling centre. You should also ensure that the plastic is clean and free of any excess food or liquid.
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It cannot be left for kerbside collection or taken to a neighbourhood recycling facility
Bubble wrap is constructed from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is categorised as Resin Identification Code (RIC) #4. Plastic films, plastic bags, and wraps like shrink wrap fall under this category. Harder plastics like milk jugs, water and soda bottles, and shampoo and detergent bottles are the only ones that can be recycled through kerbside collection or neighbourhood recycling facilities. This is because they are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), categorised as RICs 1 and 2, and they are what most recycling equipment is designed to handle.
Bubble wrap, on the other hand, is a soft plastic that can tangle with other recycling items and jam machinery, requiring the machinery to be shut down and the plastic to be removed. This is a waste of time, money, and material, and can even cause injury to the person trying to fix it. Bubble wrap should be separated from hard plastics and put together with other soft plastics, and then taken to a recycling centre or a drop-off location designated for plastic film.
If you are unable to find a recycling centre or drop-off location that accepts bubble wrap, you should try to reuse it. You can use it to ship packages, or get creative with it for a gift-wrapping or crafting project. You can also give it away on Facebook Marketplace or a local zero-waste group to someone who might need it for moving house.
If you have a bubble mailer that is made of different components, such as paper and bubble wrap, you should separate the components and recycle them individually.
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It should be separated from hard plastics and put with other soft plastics
Bubble wrap is constructed from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is categorised as Resin Identification Code (RIC) #4. Harder plastics are categorised as RICs 1 and 2 and are the only plastics that can be left for kerbside collection. Harder plastics include items such as milk jugs, water and soda bottles, and shampoo and detergent bottles. These harder plastics are what most recycling equipment is designed to handle.
Bubble wrap, on the other hand, is a soft plastic. Soft plastics can jam sorting machines at recycling facilities, which can be costly and time-consuming to fix and can even damage the machinery or cause injury. Therefore, it is important to separate bubble wrap from hard plastics and put it with other soft plastics, such as plastic bags and wraps.
Before delivering soft plastics to a recycling centre, it is important to pop all the air bubbles in the bubble wrap. All the materials should be packed inside a clear plastic bag and tied to make sure the plastic film doesn't escape.
There are thousands of retail stores and drop-off centres that accept soft plastics for recycling. However, it is always important to check with your local recycling entity, as there may be differences from town to town.
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It can be recycled at some retail stores
Bubble wrap can be recycled, but it is not as simple as leaving it on the curb with your other plastics. Harder plastics, like milk jugs, water and soda bottles, and shampoo and detergent bottles, are the only plastics that can be recycled in this way. This is because they are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and the majority of recycling equipment is designed to handle these harder plastics.
Bubble wrap, on the other hand, is made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is a plastic film. Plastic films are stretchy and tend to get stuck in recycling equipment, causing costly delays and even damage to the machinery. This is why most curbside recycling programs will not accept bubble wrap.
However, there are still ways to recycle bubble wrap. It can be recycled at some retail stores, which often have recycling bins for plastic bags and wraps. In the US, for example, stores like Walmart, Office Depot, and Best Buy accept plastic bags for recycling. In Australia, soft plastics used to be accepted at supermarkets for recycling, although this scheme has now collapsed.
If you are unable to recycle your bubble wrap, you should try to reuse it. Bubble wrap can be saved and used for packaging, shipping, or even gift-wrapping. You can also offer it to someone else for reuse, perhaps on a community board or a local zero-waste group.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, bubble wrap can be recycled. However, it cannot be left at your curb for collection or brought to your neighborhood recycling facility to be dropped off. Harder plastics like milk jugs, water and soda bottles, and shampoo and detergent bottles are the only ones that can be recycled in this way.
Bubble wrap should be separated from hard plastics and put together with other soft plastics. Pop all the bubbles before delivering it to a recycling center or a drop-off location designated for plastic film.
Bubble wrap can be recycled at a store that recycles plastic bags, like Wal-Mart, Office Depot, and Best Buy. There are thousands of retail stores and drop-off centers that accept plastic film packaging for recycling.
If you live in an area where there aren't any bubble wrap recyclable locations, you should try to reuse it. You can use it to ship your own packages, as a make-shift waterproof laptop protector, or get creative.
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