How to Ensure Your Recycled Packaging Actually Gets Recycled

There have been a number of discouraging headlines over the past few years about recycling. In 2019, China stopped accepting our recycling waste, causing a drastic increase in the amount of waste in landfills. There’s also growing doubt about the paper and plastic thrown into your curbside recycling bins, raising questions on whether or not it will ultimately be processed for reuse.

The good news is, it’s not challenging to ensure your recycled packaging makes it back into the circular economy. Here are four easy steps to take:

Check With Your Local Government

Right now, there are over 9,000 curbside recycling programs in cities and towns across the U.S. Each of them has its own rules and procedures regarding what materials are accepted in their bins.

Local governments typically publish their recycling policies online, detailing what kind of materials are accepted and what condition they must be in. A quick Google search of your town or city and the keyword “recycling” will likely lead you to the right page. You might also try using this resource by our partners at How2Recycle to find the information you need.

Know If Recyclables Can Be Picked Up Curbside

Most curbside, city-run recycling programs will accept paper, corrugated cardboard (including boxes), hard plastics, and aluminum. Some will also accept glass depending on their facility.

Case in point: Just because your local government is unable to process something through their blue bin program doesn’t mean it can’t be recycled.

In many cases, the same government website that provides details about your local recycling program will also tell you where you can recycle items they don’t accept. If you’re having trouble finding the information online, call the phone number listed on the website.

As you’ve noticed by now in this phase of research, there are many types of plastic resins, some of which can be recycled curbside, and some which require drop-offs at special facilities. Fortunately, all plastic containers have a label dictating what kind of plastic it is, and this resource from the EPA provides more information about how to handle each of them.

Pregis paper products, such as Easypack and Quantum brands, are commonly accepted items in curbside recycling programs. Other brands and products such as Sharp mailers, Astro-Bubble, and Airspeed inflatable cushions can be recycled through store drop off programs. Poly bubble mailers and poly non-cushioned mailers can be recycled in store drop offs as well, as long as paper labels are removed.

Pregis’ Renew branded portfolio of products is also designed for the circular economy, providing additional sustainable benefits such as higher amounts of recycled content while maintaining performance, recyclability, and using less raw material.

What’s more, in 2019, to help consumers understand best recycling practices for different materials, Pregis joined the How2Recycling initiative, printing simplified recycling information straight on products, so consumers know exactly how to handle them after use.

Properly Clean Waste Before Putting It in the Bin

Every city will have variations of what kinds of recyclables they can pick up curbside, but one rule that is universal is items must be clean in order to be processed.

Here’s how to get started:

• Thoroughly wash out all glass bottles and plastic containers before throwing them into the bin with soap and water, similar to washing dishes.
• If you have a lot to recycle, it may be beneficial to run items through the dishwasher.
• Don’t try to recycle soiled paper products. Used paper towels, napkins, coffee cups, and pizza boxes are never accepted by a processing facility.

Research Store and Manufacturer Recycling Policies

Though highly recyclable, flexible plastic films, such as bags, are typically only accepted for processing at store drop-off locations (for now). Next time you’re at a store, ask an employee if they accept bags.

For additional help locating a store drop-off location, use this directory by How2Recycle. Plus, the Materials Recovery for the Future project is working on a program to show that flexible packaging materials (like bags) can be effectively collected and sorted through residential recycling programs while maximizing end market value — laying the groundwork for more convenient plastic bag recycling in the future. 

Manufacturers might have mail-in programs specifically for their products and packaging. This is especially true for electronics manufacturers, which often feature programs to collect old computers, cell phones, tablets, and lithium-ion batteries. (The EPA has a list of manufacturers that provide these types of programs.) There are even take-back programs as specialized as Terracycle’s Little Bites pouch recycling or Nespresso’s recyclable coffee pods.

It may be tempting to be a “wish cycler” who casually tosses all paper, plastics, and glass into your recycling bin and hopes it gets processed — but this is a surefire way to send even more waste to the landfill. Following local instructions, and the rule "when in doubt throw it out," can sometimes be the best way to ensure your recyclables get recycled.

For more information about helping customers reduce their environmental footprint, read our Pregis Purpose.