Can you recycle packing peanuts

Try reusing shredded paper , which is difficult to recycle. Packing peanuts are easily reusable. Just save them and next time you ship something that needs protection, use the packing peanuts again. Use foam to refill cushions or stuffed animals that have lost their loft. Some mailing stores will accept packing peanuts and other packing materials for drop-off. But once you've reduced what you receive, and reused what you can, you'll still need to get rid of the rest.

The label will tell you what to do with each component of the packaging — whether it goes into kerbside recycling, taken to a shop for recycling or must go into general waste. Cardboard without shiny coatings can also be composted in home compost.

You don't generally have to worry about removing sticky tape, but if there is a large amount of plastic tape covering the cardboard, you can pull it off and put the tape into general waste. Some workplaces have secure paper shredding and disposal options which you might be able to use, or you could put into a home compost or worm farm if it's plain paper.

Plastics that can be scrunched up can usually be taken to supermarkets and put into the soft plastic recycling bins. Large pieces of bubble wrap should be cut into A3 size first, and large inflated plastic bubbles should be popped. Packing peanuts are those little bits of starch or foam you find in boxes to protect items inside. They are a bit tricky, says Ms Laclette, because it's not always clear what they're made of. If the packaging says they are water-soluble starch, you can put them in home compost or even dissolve them in water and throw away.

But if you're not sure what they are made from, it's best to put them into your rubbish bin. Most councils do not recycle polystyrene and you need to put it in your general waste bin. Try to make sure it doesn't fly away into waterways. Check on recyclingnearyou. If it just says "compostable" but not "home compostable" it can only be composted in industrial conditions, which your council area may or may not have.

If it is a certified Australian home compostable, you can put it in your home compost. Best to check with your local council if you can put it in your green waste or food and organics bin to reduce contamination issues. If you're not sure what something is made from, it is better to put it in the general waste bin to prevent other recycling being contaminated, says Ms Laclette. Get our newsletter for the best of ABC Everyday each week.

ABC Everyday helps you navigate life's challenges and choices so you can stay on top of the things that matter to you. Browse Our Entire Collection of Eco-Friendly Packaging Packing peanuts come in many different colors, and you may have heard that their color can inform you which type of peanuts they are.

The green packing peanuts you may have seen used are made from recycled materials but are still generally not biodegradable. Peanuts made from plant-based materials, such as starches, are biodegradable and compostable. Biodegradable Packing Peanuts from Air Sea Containers Air Sea Containers offers biodegradable packing peanuts as part of our complete range of eco-friendly packaging solutions. Our biodegradable peanuts are created from a plant-based, non-static, non-toxic, non-Styrofoam material that offers better performance than traditional Styrofoam packing peanuts.

Interested in learning more about our green and biodegradable packaging? Need some advice on what eco-friendly packaging materials are and how to integrate them into your packaging practices? Related Posts. Open Head vs. Recent posts.

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