Looking for ways to go green and start recycling that pile of bubble mailers you’ve collected? We can help! Here are a few easy-to-follow tips and mailer know-how to help you make earth conscious decisions for your business and life.
Easy Bubble Mailer Recycling Tips
When it comes to recycling bubble mailers, a general rule of thumb is to always check with your local recycling programs for your area. If you are not able to, then we recommend paying attention to the overall material content of your mailers and whether or not they have indicators like recycling symbols printed on the surface.
Bubble Mailer Recycling Tips To Remember
- Tip 1: Paper Mailers Are Curbside Recyclable | Mailing envelopes made from recycled paper are generally curbside recyclable. Simply empty their contents and pop them into the recycling bin as you would regular paper.
- Tip 2: Plastic Mailers Will Let You Know | Often, mailers made from plastic materials like Polyethylene (PE) Metallized Film are not curbside recyclable. However, depending on the popularity of the material within the area, there may be local recycling programs or grocery stores that will accept plastic bubble mailers.
Common Bubble Mailer Materials & How To Recycle Them
Recycled Padded Mailers
All purpose recycled-mailers are a great, eco-friendly solution for protecting soft items during transit. Their fully padded construction provides protection against tears and punctures while their self-sealing adhesive closure and pull-tab side opening make it easy to use.
Disposing Of Recycled Padded Mailers
Mailing envelopes made from recycled paper are generally curbside recyclable.
Classic Self Seal Bubble Mailers
A true packaging essential, these Paper Mart Bubble Mailers have been well loved for nearly 100 years. They’re made of a combination of both paper and plastic. These mailers are best known for their lightweight construction, classic goldenrod kraft paper exterior, and self-sealing opening.
How To Recycle Paper & Plastic Bubble Mailers
Since these are made of a paper and plastic combination, you would need to separate the paper exterior from the plastic interior by simply peeling the materials apart and recycling them curbside.
When combined, these mailers usually cannot be recycled curbside and should be put in the garbage bin, however some local recycling programs can accept an unseparated bubble mailer, and you should check with yours to see if it does.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plastic Bubble Mailers
Tear-proof and weather-proof, these Polyethylene Mailing Envelopes are known for their flexible, yet sturdy, LDPE construction. Their 3/16″ bubble lining gently cushions and protects.
How To Recycle LDPE Bubble Mailers
Often, you’ll see Low-Density Polyethylene referenced with a #4 recycling symbol. Due to their growing popularity as a commonly used material, this means that LDPE plastics are recyclable and accepted curbside.
Mirror Metallic Bubble Mailers
Metallic Bubble Mailers made from metallized polyethylene (PE) offer a protective bubble interior, shiny exterior, and self-sealing adhesive strip.
How To Recycle Metallized PE Plastic Mailers
Metallized Polyethylene Plastic cannot be recycled curbside and should be put in the garbage bin, however some local recycling programs accept them and you should check with yours to see if this material is accepted.
Paper Mart Bubble Mailers
We’ve amassed a variety of bubble mailers and shipping essentials in a variety of colors and materials. Explore our collection of Bubble Mailers & Envelopes today.
Most curbside collections do NOT accept soft plastics like plastic grocery bags or mailers as they get caught in the equipment. Often grocery stores have collection bins for plastic grocery bags and plastic bubble mailers can be included. Not the paper/plastic combos though.
Hi LGC! Great distinction. We totally agree! The paper / plastic combination bubble mailers usually cannot be recycled curbside. However, there are some recycling programs – like the ones offered by grocery stores – that may accept an unseparated bubble mailer. We recommend getting in touch with your local programs to make sure.
Really helpful post, but it would be even better with pics.
Remarkable Blog Posts!! Great work Buddy.