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简体中文Every time we move, send, or receive something, bubble wrap shows up. And bubble wrap products are rapidly finding their way into our homes (and waste streams) as customer demand for online shopping rises. But you should consider whether bubble wrap is recyclable before tossing out your bubble mailers or paddings.
In a nutshell, yes, bubble wrap can be recycled. However, there are a few extra steps needed to properly recycle bubble wrap that we will let you know below.
Is Bubble Wrap Recyclable?
Let’s start by defining bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is a plastic sheet with air bubbles in it. It is a packing material frequently used to preserve or protect objects carried from one location to another.
As mentioned before, you can recycle bubble wrap. However, you cannot leave it at your curb for collection or bring it to your neighborhood recycling facility to be dropped off. Harder plastics like milk jugs, water and soda bottles, shampoo and detergent bottles, are the only ones that can be recycled in this way since they are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or high-density polyethylene.
Important fact: Harder plastics are categorized in the recycling industry as Resin Identification Codes (RICs) 1 and 2, and they are what the majority of recycling equipment were designed to handle.
On the other hand, bubble wrap is constructed from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is categorized as RIC #4. Plastic films fall under this category, along with plastic bags and wraps like shrink wrap.
How to Recycle Bubble Wrap?
Now that you know that bubble wrap can be recycled, you still need to know how to recycle it, including finding a recycling facility specializing in this kind of plastic. You’ll need to take an additional step, but with the correct knowledge, you can easily include it in your recycling regimen. Make sure that all the air bubbles in the bubble wrap are popped before you deliver it to the recycling center.
Here are some tips on how to recycle it.
Reuse
Save it for your upcoming relocation, as a packaging material, shipping, gift-wrapping project, or trip. Don’t pop the bubbles, and store your bubble wrap tightly with other plastic films if you want to reuse them as much as possible.
Storage
Durable and waterproof are two characteristics of bubble wrap that make it a suitable packing material for storage. You can use bubble wrap again to store delicate household objects in a protective manner.
Insulation
Bubble wrap can be used as a low-cost insulation option. It provides great insulation for grocery bags, automobiles, houses, greenhouses, and plants.
Where Can I Recycle Bubble Wrap?
Search the Drop-Off Directory of Bag and Film Recycling to find a recycling facility close to you that will take bubble wrap. You may find nearby centers like Target, Walmart, and neighborhood groceries by entering your zip code.
At the recycling facility, a machine will shred the bubble wrap into minuscule bits before turning them into pellets. These plastic pellets can create a range of plastic products, including construction materials, flooring, and furniture.
Take Some Time to Start Recycling at Home
We know that the recycling process of bubble wrap sounds difficult, but it is not impossible. Remember that you can’t recycle plastic bags and bubble wrap with other plastics, but it must be recycled in a special drop-off location.
It’s incredibly simple to recycle directly from your driveway or doorway with Recycle From Home if you’re looking for a CA CRV recycling center in Irvine or Corona, California!
Your recyclables are collected by our drivers, who then process them at our facilities. Send us a message or call us; our customer service team will be happy to help you!
