More and more people are receiving weekly and daily packages from the company. As these packages pile up on doorsteps all over the world, a glaring issue has emerged: How do you recycle them?
The answer is not clear because of the large variety in packaging.
Customers in the U.S. can click on any order in the Amazon app and scroll down to see instructions for recycling or discard. People can ask the two virtual assistants "How do I recycle my Amazon packaging?", and both will direct them to Amazon's guidelines.
David Pinsky doesn't believe that this information is useful.
Amazon is placing the burden on customers to manage its enormous packaging footprint while providing information. Most of the plastics that are collected for recycling are not recycled. Pinsky wrote that it's time for Amazon to ditch all single-use packaging and transition to reuse and refill systems.
Pinsky said that large corporations like Amazon need to take responsibility for their actions.
According to Amazon, products in Frustration-Free Packaging offer more sustainable packaging that is right-sized. 100% of the materials are recycled. The option is working in some way. Amazon has reduced the weight of outbound packaging by 36 percent and eliminated more than a million tons of packaging material thanks to programs such as Frustration-Free Packaging.
Amazon has a mailer that is fully recyclable. The same recyclability as Amazon's cardboard box, but taking up less space in the recycle bin, was offered by the company as of mid 2020.
The company's " Less packaging, more smiles" campaign was launched in 2020 as a way to use less packaging materials in its shipments. You can reuse Amazon cardboard boxes in fun ways, like to build a rocket, fort, or car for your cat or dog, all thanks to a QR code on the box.
These efforts may not be enough. In an effort to pack more shipments into delivery planes and trucks, Amazon is using plastic mailers instead of cardboard boxes.
Plastic film is included in many of the mailers it uses. If your city does not have a curbside recycling program, Amazon provides a website to find a drop-off location that will accept plastic film. The website doesn't have a list of complete options for some areas.
There aren't many cities that accept plastic film for recycling, according to a senior resource specialist who works on plastic waste issues. When it comes to recycling centers, even if they do accept plastic film, it can be difficult to process as they often get caught in the center's machinery.
Recology workers try to manually remove the film before it enters the machinery, but this doesn't always work. The Recology spokesman said that Amazon packages were a new packaging trend.
The company tried to address the plastic film concerns and redesign many of the plastic products to be more sustainable, increasing the recycled content of plastic film bags from 25 percent to 50 percent, and from 15 percent to over 40 percent for its plastic padded bags. According to the company, the improvements will eliminate more than 25,000 metric tons of plastic each year. The BOTTLE consortium, a U.S. Department of Energy research initiative to reduce plastic pollution, is partnering with the company. Plastic film recycling can be found at more than 168 Amazon sites in North America and Europe.
If you want to find drop-off locations, Pinsky suggests asking your supermarket if they recycle plastic film.
The paper address label is there as well. Hoover says that a self-adhesive label is not likely to be recycled. Pinsky says it's upsetting to see Amazon put more single-use plastic on the market.
It should not be the customer's responsibility to figure out how to recycle when shopping online. Companies need to step up as well.
Amazon's packaging can be recycled.
How to recycle Amazon's paper padded mailer? Credit: AMAZON
Paper padded mailers are similar to cardboard boxes and other paper items.
Most curbside recycling programs should accept paper products.
Amazon's bubble-lined plastic bag. Credit: AMAZON
Amazon's plastic bag. Credit: AMAZON
Amazon says that some cities offer curbside recycling. If your city doesn't have a drop-off location that accepts plastic film, you can go to Amazon and enter your zip code.
It is questionable if some drop-off locations will accept plastic bags. Hoover suggests people check the websites of the drop-off centers to see what can be recycled.
Recycling Amazon's cardboard box. Credit: AMAZON
Amazon's cardboard folder. Credit: AMAZON
Amazon says that cardboard can be recycled in most curbside recycling. If you want to recycle, it's important to remove any tape.
Hoover says you should check with your local government to see if you are supposed to prepare these materials in a certain way.
New York City advises people to flatten cardboard boxes and tie them together with twine before throwing them away.
cardboard boxes can be used to begin composting.
Amazon's paper envelope. Credit: AMAZON
Most curbside recycling programs accept paper envelopes fromAmazon.
Give your Amazon cardboard box another life by donating your stuff with it. Credit: AMAZON
It is possible to give an extra box a second life. If you fill a box with items you want to donate, print out a label for free, and send it through the USPS, you won't have to pay anything. You can write off the donation on your taxes if you choose to do so.
Amazon's brown packing paper. Credit: AMAZON
Amazon says that packing paper can be recycled through most curbside programs.
Amazon's air pillow. Credit: AMAZON
If you can, you can either recycle the air pillows or find a place that will accept them. The plastic film in air pillows makes it harder to recycle.
Hoover suggests popping the air out of the pillow and then taking it to a drop-off location.
Amazon's bubble-lined paper mailer. Credit: AMAZON
Amazon says that paper mailers with air bubble padding should be thrown away. Amazon does not explain what they mean by "check with your local recycling program for more details."
Pinsky says to throw out the mailers.
Amazon's reusable gift bags. Credit: AMAZON
Amazon encourages people to reuse gift bags. You will have to throw them in the garbage bin once they are no longer presentable.
Pinsky says to avoid these gift bags entirely. The majority of the bags will end up in the environment.
"Get creative with other ways to share gifts that don't require single-use plastic bags, paper, or other materials," he said.
Amazon's reusable gift bags made from 100 percent recycled material. Credit: AMAZON
You have to put the bag in the trash once you're done with it.
The end result is the same despite the fact that this version is made out of recycled material.
While it is better for Amazon to use recycled materials than virgin plastics for its gift bags, these bags will inevitably end up in landfills. Pinsky says that Amazon must do better and ditch single-use plastic packaging.
Amazon's Prime Now gel pack. Credit: AMAZON
Gel packs should be thrown out according to the website.
Amazon Fresh dry ice plastic film. Credit: Amazon
The dry ice blocks are covered by a plastic film. It can't be recycled according to Amazon.
Amazon's Prime Now Paper Bag. Credit: Amazon
Amazon Fresh Paper Bag. Credit: Amazon
Prime Now and Fresh Paper bags can be recycled through most curbside recycling programs.
Amazon's Prime Now insulated pouch. Credit: Amazon
The Prime Now insulated pouch is difficult to recycle. If you want to remove the plastic film from the mailer, you need to take out the insulation pad from the mailer. You can recycle the plastic film and mailer where the plastic is accepted and the natural fiber pad where the cotton is accepted.
Hoover wrote that Amazon should list film plastic on its website, as many curbside programs don't accept film plastic.
Amazon Fresh water bottle. Credit: Amazon
The water bottle can be recycled in most programs. According to Amazon, the water bottles are used to cool items, but you can also drink the water, so don't let it go to waste.
Amazon's Foil bubble insulation bag. Credit: Amazon
Amazon says foil insulation should be thrown away.
Amazon Fresh Cardboard Box. Credit: Amazon
The Amazon Fresh Cardboard Box can be recycled in the same way as Amazon's Prime Now and Fresh Paper Bag, but you need to take off the tape before you do.
Amazon Fresh dry ice pouch. Credit: Amazon
You have to throw the Amazon Fresh dry ice pouch in the trash.
Amazon's produce bag. Credit: Amazon
The plastic film in the product may make it difficult to recycle. When it's not possible to recycle in your city, you can use designated store drop-off locations where plastic film is accepted.
You should check where you can recycle it. If you do your own research and ask your supermarket if they accept the film, you can find a drop off location.
Amazon's bottom board keep Amazon groceries cool. Credit: Amazon
Amazon's paper insulation. Credit: Amazon
The products are made of cardboard. You can recycle both in your curbside program according to Amazon.
On December 10, 2020, 9:56 a.m., there will be a new update. The story has been updated to include some of Amazon's more recent sustainable initiatives, statistics on how much packaging material the company has eliminated, how to access Amazon's recycling and discard instructions, and an updated quote from David Pinsky.
UPDATE: Jul. 8, 2022, 9:45 a.m. EDT This story has been updated and republished again with recent initiatives and statistics.
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