Can I Recycle Bubble Mailers and Padded Envelopes?
Can I Recycle Bubble Mailers and Padded Envelopes?
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There has been a huge increase in the number of purchases getting shipped directly to people’s homes, which leaves many of us wondering how to recycle all those bubble mailers, poly mailers and padded envelopes. First of all, are bubble mailers recyclable? Yes, you can recycle bubble mailers and padded envelopes, but not necessarily in your curbside bin.
The recyclability of mailing envelopes mostly comes down to what they are made of. Most shipping envelopes that you get from Amazon and other major online retailers are made of either paper, plastic or both.
You CAN Recycle Bubble Mailers (Sometimes)
The general rule of thumb to determine whether you can recycle your shipping envelope goes like this:
- Paper mailers and paper envelopes are recyclable in regular paper recycling bins (or curbside if your community takes paper) as long as the envelopes are made of paper ONLY. (If they are padded, pull the layers apart to make sure that they aren’t lined with plastic or bubble wrap. If in doubt, throw it out.)
- Plastic mailers, poly mailers and plastic Amazon envelopes, including the plain plastic sleeves and the padded kind lined with bubble wrap, as long as they are all plastic, they can be recycled along with plastic film like bread bags and grocery bags at drop-off locations that take plastic film (NOT in your curbside recycling). Be sure to remove the paper label. (They don’t peel off easily so you may need to cut out the label section and toss that part.) More details on plastic film recycling here.
- Mixed-materials packaging like paper envelopes lined with bubble wrap are NOT recyclable unless you can manage to separate the plastic from the paper completely and recycle them separately. Otherwise, it goes in the trash.
Amazon packaging often comes with helpful How2Recycle labels (see image insert) that make it clear how to recycle your packaging properly. Hopefully more manufacturers will adopt this type of labeling.
What about other type of packaging?
Visit A Guide to Recycling Packing Materials for more tips on recycling bubble wrap, styrofoam blocks, boxes, shredded paper and more. For stretch wrap, bubble wrap, packing foam, shipping peanuts, bubble wrap, air cushions and tape dispensers, you could also purchase a TerraCycle Mailing, Shipping and Packaging Supplies Zero Waste Box.
Why not donate your old bubble mailers?
If you have a bunch of leftover mailers or other packing materials, there are plenty of people who would love to have them. You can post it on BoxGiver, which helps people with extra packing materials find others who can use them. But I find that an even easier, more local option is to post it on your local “Buy Nothing” group where people give away items they no longer need. Where I live, almost anything offered up on the list gets snapped up immediately, so give it a try!
Do you use poly mailers for your business? Looking for zero waste or recycled packaging? Consider buying 100% recycled plastic mailers like the one pictured here from the LastStrawShop.
Related articles:
- A Guide to Recycling Packing Materials
- Why Can’t I Recycle Wet Cardboard?
- Can I Recycle Bubble Wrap?
- Can I Recycle Styrofoam?
- Can I Recycle Shredded Paper?
For lots more recycling tips and info, visit the Recycling Page.
pure greenwashing. As you know its impossible to remove the paper label from any Amazon plastic mailer.
The label section can be cut out with scissors or a knife and the rest of the bag recycled.
I’ve had success holding the area of the label over my toaster for a few seconds to soften the glue. When warmed, the labels peel right off intact.
The mailers i get have multiple paper labels on both side. If you tried to cut them out you have maybe 20 % of the recyclable material. Also they don’t cut easily with scissors. Greenwashing.
It’s a pain, but with a heat gun and a little patience, I have been able to remove the labels from the mailers.
Props on the extra effort, but at that point I wonder if the additional energy costs are worth the small amount of recoverable plastic, in terms of net effect on the environment. For mixed-material packaging, I use them either to mail small items or as padding for shipping and moving.
There is a reason Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is in the list order that it is! Best of luck
Definitely, if they are still in good condition, reuse is the way to go. It would also be nice if Amazon and other retailers would switch to a more easily recyclable packaging.
A hair dryer works too.
Thanks. But the heat gun scorches my carbon foot print and cuts into the time before my ultimate demise … We need labels that peel off and a styles of shipping and delivery that don’t scrub the labels off prematurely!
You could cut it out then.
First, reuse padded mailing envelopes and just cover up the old address with the new one. We also use them to wrap fragile items for our move.
Second, don’t shop at Amazon or other companies who are known for their massive greenwashing practices and huge negative environmental impact. Support local businesses, bring your own bag, and avoid packaging as much as humanly possible.
Yep!
I know unwanted bubble mailers and padded envelopes can be donated on BoxGiver.
Fantastic tip, thank you! I will have to update this article with that info!