WHO KNEW That From the Outer Packaging to the Inner Bubble Wrap You Can Recycle Most Packing Materials to Keep Them Out of the Landfill?

Cardboard boxes and non-plastic padded envelopes can be recycled at the curb. Just make sure, if the padded envelopes have a plastic label, to peel or cut them off before you toss them in your bin with the rest of your paper. Mixed material mailers such as paper laminated to plastic bubble wrap can’t be recycled and therefore must be trashed. Padded mailers that are all plastic and Tyvek envelopes (looks like paper but is a plastic that is hard to rip) can be recycled with your plastic bags at West Lebanon’s Hannaford grocery store if you cut or peel off any paper labels on them. Of course, reusing all packing materials is the best option. I keep them for just that purpose.

Once you open your package you might have Styrofoam in blocks or peanuts, plant based peanuts, bubble wrap, single use plastic bags, film wrap or sheets of brown paper. The Styrofoam can be recycled on October 29th from 9:00 to 11:00 am behind Jake's Coffee at 227 Mechanic Street, Lebanon, though not the Styrofoam peanuts. They can be dropped off at Hanover Hardware where they will be reused. The plant-based peanuts will melt away if you pour water on them. Stretchy film wrap can be recycled at Hannaford’s grocery store along with single use plastic bags and bubble wrap. The sheets of brown paper are recyclable with other papers at curbside.

The year-end holiday season is fast approaching. Save your outer and inner packing materials to reuse. Recycle when necessary. Take note; some companies are moving toward more sustainable merchandise packaging using paper based products instead of plastic. When possible, avoid packaging items that are destined for the landfill.