How to Recycle Packing Materials: Cardboard, Foam, and More

Got leftover packing materials after a move? Here's how to recycle them properly.

Recycling cardboard, foam, and plastic can reduce waste and conserve resources. Each material needs specific handling to ensure it's recyclable. Here's a quick guide:

• Cardboard: Remove tape/staples, flatten boxes, and keep them clean and dry. Recycle via curbside bins, drop-off centers, or bulk pickup services.
• Soft Plastics (e.g., bubble wrap, air pillows): Clean and dry them. Drop them off at local stores with designated recycling bins.
• Foam: Clean and break into smaller pieces. Take it to specialized drop-off locations.

Pro Tip: Always check your local recycling rules to avoid contamination and ensure proper disposal.

Keep reading for detailed steps, reuse ideas, and preparation tips for each material.

How to Recycle Cardboard Boxes - Recycling Tips

How to Recycle Cardboard

Cardboard is one of the most commonly used packing materials, and the good news is - it’s easy to recycle. To make sure your recycling efforts are effective, handle each type of cardboard properly.

Types of Cardboard to Know

Before recycling, figure out what type of cardboard you have:

• Corrugated cardboard: The thick, sturdy material used for shipping boxes. This is widely accepted for recycling.
• Paperboard: A thinner, single-layer material often used for cereal or shoe boxes. This should be recycled separately from corrugated cardboard.
• Kraft paper: Brown wrapping paper. It can be recycled as long as it’s clean and dry.

How to Prepare Cardboard for Recycling

Follow these steps to make sure your cardboard is ready for recycling:

1. Remove any tape, staples, plastic inserts, or foam pieces.
2. Throw away boxes that have oil, food, or chemical stains - contaminated cardboard can’t be recycled.
3. Flatten the boxes to save space.
4. Store the flattened cardboard in a dry area until you’re ready to recycle it.

Where to Recycle Cardboard

After prepping your cardboard, take it to one of these recycling options:

• Curbside pickup: Many recycling programs will collect it during regular pickups.
• Drop-off centers: Local recycling facilities often accept cardboard.
• Retailers and community events: Some stores and events offer recycling drop-offs.

If you have a large amount of cardboard, check with your local waste management service to see if they provide bulk pickup options.

Up next, explore the best ways to recycle foam and plastic materials.

Soft Plastic Recycling Guide

Soft plastics, like bubble wrap, air pillows, plastic wraps, bags, and shipping envelopes, need a specialized recycling process. Most curbside recycling programs do not accept these materials, so handling them correctly is essential.

Here are some quick tips for preparing soft plastics:

• Make sure bubble wrap is clean and dry.
• Deflate air pillows before disposal.
• Peel off any paper labels from shipping envelopes.

Many local stores provide drop-off bins specifically for soft plastics. Be sure to check your local waste management guidelines for additional instructions.

Up next, we'll cover recycling practices for hard plastics.

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Material Recycling Methods

Once materials are properly prepared, understanding how they are recycled helps you see how your efforts contribute to effective processing and reuse.

Different types of packaging materials require specific recycling techniques to ensure they are handled correctly and processed efficiently.

Cardboard Recycling
Clean cardboard is broken down through mechanical pulping. It’s shredded and mixed with water to create a slurry, which is then used to produce new paper products. However, since the fibers become shorter with each cycle, cardboard can only be recycled a limited number of times.

Foam Recycling
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is processed by either heat compression or chemical treatment. This reduces its volume, and the material is then turned into pellets for reuse.

Plastic Recycling
Hard plastics are sorted by resin type, ground into flakes, washed, and melted into pellets. Soft plastics are separated by polymer type before they can be recycled.

Quick Reference Guide

Material Type	What to Check	Acceptable Condition	Where to Recycle	Restrictions
Cardboard	Must be clean, flat	Dry, grease-free, and clean	Curbside bins or local recycling centers	Avoid wax-coated or contaminated boxes
EPS Foam	Break into smaller pieces	Clean, light-colored foam	Specialized drop-off locations	No food containers or colored foam
Hard Plastic	Check resin codes	Clean and free of mixed materials	Curbside bins or collection centers	Resin codes typically #1–7 only
Soft Plastic	Bundle by type	Dry, clean, and label-free	Retail store drop-off points	No biodegradable or metallized films

Contamination can ruin entire recycling batches, so always confirm whether items are recyclable with your local facilities. These methods transform your prepared materials into reusable products, closing the recycling loop described earlier.

Local Rules and Reuse Options

Check Your Local Rules

Start by visiting your city’s waste management website or giving them a call to get the latest recycling guidelines.

Municipalities often provide detailed information, including:

• Accepted materials and how to prepare them
• Collection schedules and container requirements
• Special handling instructions for specific items
• Drop-off locations for materials not collected curbside

Some areas might ask you to cut cardboard into smaller pieces, limit certain plastics, or take foam to designated drop-off points. Some even organize special collection events for items that are harder to recycle.

If you're moving to a new city, make sure to check the recycling rules for both your current and future locations, as they can differ significantly.

Looking for ways to reduce waste beyond recycling? Consider giving materials a second life through reuse.

Ways to Reuse Materials

Before tossing items into the recycling bin, think about how they could be reused to get more out of them.

• Storage Solutions
  Use boxes to organize your garage, store seasonal decorations, or line drawers with foam sheets. They're also great for keeping tools neatly arranged.
• Community Donations
  Clean packing materials can often be donated. Local businesses, schools, community theaters, or even animal shelters may find them useful for storage, projects, or other needs.
• Creative Repurposing
  Turn cardboard into compost liners, use bubble wrap to insulate plants in a greenhouse, or create drawer dividers from old boxes. Foam sheets can even be repurposed for garden padding.

Here’s a quick guide to common materials and how they can be reused or donated:

Material Type	Reuse Ideas	Donation Options
Cardboard Boxes	Storage, mulch, compost liners	Schools, businesses, moving exchanges
Foam Packing	Tool organization, crafts, insulation	Shipping stores, art centers
Bubble Wrap	Plant insulation, storage padding	Local retailers, shipping centers
Packing Peanuts	Plant drainage, craft supplies	Shipping stores, art programs

Summary: Steps for Proper Recycling

To recycle effectively, follow these preparation steps and avoid common mistakes:

Material Type	Preparation Steps	Common Mistakes to Avoid
Cardboard	Remove tape and staples, flatten boxes, and keep dry	Leaving boxes assembled or including greasy/wet cardboard
Foam	Clean off debris, separate by type, and check symbols	Mixing foam types or leaving food residue
Bubble Wrap	Remove tape and labels, bundle together, and keep clean	Including non-recyclable adhesives or using dirty materials
Packing Peanuts	Sort by material type (foam vs. biodegradable) and keep dry	Mixing materials or recycling wet products

Key Guidelines for Recycling

• Identify the Material: Look for recycling symbols and numbers to confirm the type.
• Thorough Cleaning: Remove tape, staples, and any non-recyclable components.
• Proper Sorting: Keep materials separated to avoid contamination.
• Follow Local Rules: Check with your local waste management authorities for specific recycling requirements.

Taking these steps helps prevent contamination and ensures your recyclable items are processed correctly.