Packing Peanuts Alternative ways to recycle Special Instructions Drop off clean foam peanuts for reuse at one of the following locations: All American Mail Center1370 Trancas Ave, Napa | (707) 255-7595 Buffalo’s Shipping Post2471 Solano Ave, Napa | (707) 226-7942 Cartons & Crates3250 California Blvd, Napa | (707) 224-7447 The UPS Store4225 Solano Ave, Napa | (707) 258-2454 Packing Peanuts Are Not Recyclable Packing peanuts, which are made from plastic #6, never biodegrade. Because they are so light, they are also difficult to contain. They often fly out of the trash as well as landfills, contaminating the environment. Choose Green If you have to use packing peanuts, try to pick the green ones. Some are made from recycled materials, and some are starch-based and biodegradable. The pink and white ones are made from 70 percent raw materials and won’t break down. Alternative Ways to Recycle Recycle With Home for Foam Visit Home for Foam to see if there is a foam recycler in your area. These recyclers will accept many foam products, including foam packaging. Find out more. Recycle With EPS Send your foam peanuts and hard packaging to EPS Industry Alliance Packaging, which offers a foam recycling alternative. Find a drop off location or mail in clean foam packaging to the nearest collection facility. Ways to Reduce Use Paper Instead Rather than purchasing packing peanuts, use a more sustainable alternative to protect your shipped items, like paper or newspaper that was headed for the recycling. Try reusing shredded paper, which is difficult to recycle. Packing Boxes With Mushrooms Replace your packaging with a green alternative: Ecovative Design has developed bricks of organic waste that are injected with mushroom spores. They are biodegradable and will decompose in a month, unlike foam, which cannot fully biodegrade. Ways to Reuse Save for Next Time Packing peanuts are easily reusable. Just save them and next time you ship something that needs protection, use the packing peanuts again. Reuse Foam at Home Use foam to refill cushions or stuffed animals that have lost their loft. You can also use foam to line the bottom of your potted plants—you won’t need as much soil and it will allow water to drain easily. Take Them to a Mail Store Some mailing stores will accept packing peanuts and other packing materials for drop-off. However, it depends on policies and current supply, so call ahead to ask.
