Here’s Where You Can Donate All That Packaging From Your Online Shopping
Make an eco-conscious decision to recycle your waste.
Cyber weekend has officially drawn to a close, and for those who’ve managed to score some deals, you may now find yourself surrounded not only by your new purchases, but also an overwhelming amount of packaging at home. While the pandemic leaves us little choice but to acquire most of our needs and wants via the Internet this year, the aftermath of online shopping — including the packaging that our orders come in — greatly affects the environment. Whether your items arrive in cardboard boxes stuffed with Styrofoam, or wrapped in layers of plastic, these materials should be properly recycled and disposed of.
To further promote a sustainable lifestyle, here are a few U.S.-based organizations where you can donate your shopping bags and packaging to. Read on and find out how you can contribute to saving our planet.
How2Recycle
How2Recycle is a standardized labeling system that follows the Federal Trade Commission Green Guide, informing the public on how to properly recycle. The company also provides a section on its website indicating where you can take your plastic bags, wraps and films to recycle via your local retail stores, including Target, Walmart, Lidl and Wegmans.
Plastic Film Recycling
Plastic Film Recycling’s Wrap Recycling Action Program aims to make plastic film – including wraps, bags and flexible packaging – “a commonly recycled material with a strong and ever-growing recycling rate.” You can drop off your plastic materials via a designated recycling location near you.
Styro Recycle
Based in Renton, Washington, Styro Recycle accepts clean and dry Styrofoam that are free of tape and labels. You can donate your polystyrene foam at its local drop-off centers or mail your Styrofoam to the company directly.
TerraCycle
TerraCycle, a social enterprise dedicated to eliminating the idea of waste, offers a wide range of recycling platforms. The company has also created Loop, a sustainable shopping experience that does not require single-use packaging. One standout program of TerraCycle is its Zero Waste Box™, which allows you to recycle almost any type of waste to be repurposed.
