When you have something delivered that you’ve ordered online, chances are it will come wrapped in too much paper, cardboard or even plastic packaging. In this guide, we will go through some of the most common packaging materials and explore how easy they are to recycle.
Cardboard
Online shopping can create too much waste packaging that is bad for the environment . Cardboard, however, is one of the easiest materials to recycle as most people can dispose of the packaging in their recycling bin. It is important, though, to remove as much parcel tape as possible as this cannot be recycled easily.
Bubble Wrap
If you order something fragile, it will usually arrive surrounded by bubble wrap to keep it safe. Bubble wrap can be recycled if you take it to your local supermarket as they usually have a recycling service for plastic bags, plastic film and other types of plastic packaging.
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Polystyrene Beads
Sometimes an item purchased online will be delivered surrounded by polystyrene foam beads or shapes which offer protection against bumps and knocks. Unfortunately, polystyrene is usually non-recyclable. Some local councils will accept it at their recycling centres, but it’s best to check on their websites first.
Padded Envelopes
Padded envelopes are usually lined with bubble wrap. This makes them difficult to recycle as the bubble lining can’t be separated from the paper envelope. It’s best to try to reuse padded envelopes as many times as possible before they wear out.
Paper
Brown paper is often used in delivery packaging and this can be recycled at home in your recycling bin. Wrapping paper used for birthdays and Christmas, however, cannot be recycled due to the way it is dyed.
Some parcels come with shredded paper and this can’t be recycled in your recycling bin as the small pieces can get stuck in the machinery at the recycling centre. You could compost it at home or use it for bedding for small animals.
