Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Are Packing Peanuts Recyclable?

According to the patent for packing peanuts filed in 1962, Robert E. Holden was named as the inventor.

Packing peanuts, used for packaging fragile items, was also touted as a material that could be used as insulation since it proved to be a good heat insulator.

Originally packing peanuts were made of foam, but since the 1990s there have been more “green” ingredients used such as corn or grain sorghum. “Polystyrene-based packing peanuts were invented in 1965 and have been used ever since…and can be used over and over again.

Ever since the early 1990s, cornstarch has been increasingly used to form packing peanuts. These are more environmentally friendly as they can be dissolved in water. They are also non-toxic to humans and pets if accidentally ingested. The main drawback to these packing peanuts though is that they are about twice as heavy, not as resilient, and cost a bit more.”


How do you know, at a glance, what type of packing peanuts you have?

  • "Green Packing Peanuts = 70% or more recycled polystyrene
  • White Packing Peanuts = 70% or more non-recycled polystyrene
  • Pink Packing Peanuts = anti-static has been applied"

Polystyrene packing peanuts are only recyclable at recycling centers who have processes in place to accommodate such material and buyers for it after it is baled. Also, since packing peanuts are extremely small by material standards, they are very difficult to bale or keep packed inside a bale of other Polystyrene products.

To be sure, call your local recycling center to see if packing peanuts are an item they accept.

For more information on recyclable items visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.

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1 comment:

  1. we all know that plastic can cause great pollution, and the mealworms can deal with it is a good news. On top of that, our company INTCO also has many machines to deal with these plastic, especially polystyrene. and here is our website: http://www.intcorecycling.com/EPE-Recycling.html

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