Padded Envelopes (All Plastic)

Plastic Bags & Film

Padded envelopes that are made of all plastic are considered plastic film.

Reducing is better than recycling. When wrapping up fragile items opt for towels, sheets, or extra fabric.

Plastic film includes wraps, bags, and flexible packaging. It is not ideal for curbside recycling collection because it can jam sorting equipment resulting in mechanical issues.

To ensure plastic-padded envelopes get recycled, bring them to a participating plastic film drop-off location. Items must be clean, dry, and free of tape. Not all types of plastic film are accepted at all locations. Confirm acceptability prior to drop-off.

If you are not planning on taking plastic-padded envelopes to a dedicated plastic film recycling location, then please place them in the trash container. 

Do Not Recycle Curbside

Plastic-padded envelopes can clog recycling equipment, so keep them out of your curbside recycling bin. Recycle plastic-padded envelopes and other plastic film by taking it to a designated plastic bag drop-off location.

Remove Paper Labels Before Recycling

Before recycling, peel off or use scissors to remove any labels.

Mixed Materials Go in the Garbage

Padded envelopes made of mixed materials (e.g. paper envelopes with plastic bubble wrap inside) cannot be recycled. Toss them in the garbage.

Ways to Reduce

Buy Padded Envelopes Made of Like Materials

Use bubble mailers made from all paper or all plastic instead of mixed materials that cannot be recycled.

Ways to Reuse

Use More Than Once

Save padded envelopes you receive and reuse them when you have something to mail. Place new address labels over the original address labels and seal securely with new tape.

Use as Bubble Wrap

Reuse padded envelopes as padding for when you next need to store or ship something fragile.

Did You Know?

A New Life: Recycling Plastic Bags and Other Flexible Plastics Into More

After being collected at drop-off locations, flexible plastics are often recycled into synthetic lumber for decking or park benches. Flexible plastics can also be recycled directly into another plastic bag.