Amazon has become an increasingly ubiquitous part of our lives, as more and more people receive weekly — and even daily — packages from the company. But as these packages pile up on doorsteps all over the world, a glaring issue has emerged: How do you recycle all those damn boxes, bubble envelopes, and Prime Now paper bags?
Given the huge variety in packaging, the answer isn’t so clear.
Amazon does provide guidelines around the topic, and customers in the U.S. whose orders are fulfilled by Amazon can click on any order in the Amazon app and scroll down to the bottom to view recycling or discard instructions. People can also ask Alexa or Siri “How do I recycle my Amazon packaging?” and both will direct them to Amazon’s guidelines.
But David Pinsky, a senior plastics campaigner at Greenpeace, doesn’t think this information’s very useful.
“While it is helpful to provide information, Amazon is continuing to place the burden on customers to manage its enormous packaging footprint. As U.S. and global recycling markets collapse, the truth is that very few plastics are still recyclable and, even if they are collected for recycling, most are not recycled. It’s time for Amazon to ditch all single-use packaging and transition to reuse and refill systems,” Pinsky, who works to make large companies reduce their single-plastic use, wrote in an email.
Too many used books? Want to help literacy efforts? Here’s what to do.
Large corporations like Amazon need to take responsibility by eliminating throwaway packaging and switching to reuse and refill systems, Pinsky explained.
Amazon does offer a program called Frustration-Free Packaging, which includes products designed to ship in their own packaging without the need for additional Amazon mailers or boxes. According to Amazon, “products in ‘Frustration-Free Packaging’ offer more sustainable packaging that is right-sized, reduces damages, is made of recyclable packaging materials, and is easier to open.” It is also made of 100% curbside recyclable materials. And the option is working, to some extent. Since 2015, Amazon has reduced the weight of outbound packaging by 36 percent and eliminated more than a million tons of packaging material, the equivalent of over 2 billion shipping boxes, thanks to programs such as Frustration-Free Packaging.
What’s more, in 2019, Amazon debuted a fully recyclable paper padded mailer. The company had shipped more than 200 million new mailers to customers as of mid-2020, offering the same recyclability as Amazon’s cardboard box but taking up less space in the recycle bin, says an Amazon spokesperson.
The company also debuted its “Less Packaging, More Smiles” campaign in 2020 as a way to use less packaging materials in its shipments while helping customers repurpose boxes before recycling. For example, you can reuse Amazon cardboard boxes in fun ways — like to build a rocket, fort, or car for your cat or dog — all via a QR code on the box that provides instructions.
But these sustainability efforts might not be going far enough. As the Washington Post reported, in an effort to pack more shipments into delivery planes and trucks, Amazon is using more small plastic mailers rather than cardboard boxes.
Many of the plastic mailers it uses (like its regular and bubble-lined plastic bags) include plastic film. Amazon notes on its website that some cities have curbside recycling programs, and if your city doesn’t, Amazon provides a website to find a drop-off location (which the website says refers to retail stores, municipal recycling centers, and private recyclers) that will take plastic film. However, Pinsky says this website isn’t exhaustive because it doesn’t include a list of complete options for some areas.
There also aren’t that many cities with recycling programs that accept plastic film, says Darby Hoover, a senior resource specialist who works on plastic waste issues at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental advocacy organization. When it comes to recycling centers, even if they do accept plastic film, it can be hard, if not impossible, to process, as they often get caught in the center’s machinery, a spokesperson from the recycling, landfill, and compost operator Recology wrote in an email.
To avoid this problem, Recology workers try to manually remove loose plastic film before it enters the machinery, but this doesn’t always work. “Amazon packages represent a challenging new packaging trend,” the Recology spokesperson explained.
In 2021, the company attempted to address the plastic-film concerns and redesigned many of these 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. The improvements are expected to eliminate more than 25,000 metric tons of new plastic each year moving forward, according to the company. In March 2022, the company also announced its partnership with the BOTTLE consortium, a U.S. Department of Energy research initiative to reduce plastic pollution, to design new modes of plastic chemical upcycling. Additionally, Amazon now offers on-site plastic film recycling at more than 168 Amazon sites across North America and Europe.
Pinsky still suggests conducting your own research to find drop-off locations and asking your supermarket if they recycle plastic film.
And then there’s the paper address label. If it’s a self-adhesive label, it’s probably not recyclable, Hoover says. “It’s pretty upsetting to see Amazon has gone in this direction by putting more single-use plastics on the market,” Pinsky says.
Although online shopping has become the de-facto way of living, it shouldn’t just be the customer’s responsibility to figure out how to recycle. Companies need to step up, too, Hoover says.
In the meantime, here’s how to recycle Amazon’s packaging.
1. Paper padded envelope mailer
Credit: AMAZON
Amazon says these paper padded mailers are recyclable, just like cardboard boxes and other paper items.
Paper products should be accepted by most curbside recycling programs, says Pinsky similarly.
2. Bubble-lined plastic bag and plastic bag
Credit: AMAZON
Credit: AMAZON
Some cities offer curbside recycling, Amazon writes on its website. If your city doesn’t, Amazon provides a website where you can enter your zip code to find a drop-off location that accepts plastic film, which these bags contain.
Still, it’s questionable if some drop-off locations will accept bubble-lined plastic bags, Pinsky says. Hoover advises people to check drop-off centers’ websites to see what they can recycle.
3. Cardboard box and cardboard folder
Credit: AMAZON
Credit: AMAZON
Cardboard boxes and folders can be recycled in most curbside recycling, Amazon states on its website. It also says to remove any tape before recycling.
Still, you should check with your local government to see what is recyclable and learn how and if you’re supposed to prepare these materials in a particular way, Hoover says.
For example, New York City advises people to flatten cardboard boxes and then tie them together with strong twine before setting them out for recycling.
You can also use your cardboard boxes to start composting.
4. Paper Envelope
Credit: AMAZON
Amazon says its paper envelopes are recyclable in most curbside recycling programs.
5. Give Back Box partnership (for cardboard boxes)
Credit: AMAZON
If you have an extra box lying around, you can also give it a second life. Just fill a box with items you wish to donate, print out a label for free, and ship it at no cost to you through UPS or USPS. Your old things will be re-homed to charities through Amazon’s partnership with Give Back Box, and you can write off the donation on your taxes.
6. Packing paper
Credit: AMAZON
Packing paper is recyclable through most curbside recycling programs, Amazon writes on its website.
7. Air pillow
Credit: AMAZON
Amazon suggests you either recycle its air pillows curbside, if possible, or find a drop-off location that accepts them. Like Amazon’s plastic bags, air pillows contain plastic film, which means the packaging is harder to recycle.
When you are able to recycle them, Hoover suggests first popping the air out of the pillow and then bringing it to a drop-off location.
8. Bubble-lined paper mailer
Credit: AMAZON
Paper mailers with air bubble padding are not recyclable and should be put in the trash, Amazon says on its website. However, Amazon also says you can check with your local recycling program for more details but doesn’t explain what they mean by this.
Pinsky, for his part, advises throwing out these mailers.
9. Reusable gift bags
Credit: AMAZON
As you’ve probably guessed by the name, Amazon encourages you to reuse these gift bags. But once they’re no longer presentable, you’ll have to chuck them in the garbage bin.
Pinsky advises avoiding these gift bags altogether. Most of the bags will end up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment.
Instead, he says, “get creative with other ways to share gifts that don’t require single-use plastic bags, paper, or other materials.”
10. Reusable gift bags made from 100 percent recycled material
Credit: AMAZON
This gift bag improves on Amazon’s reusable gift bag, but you still have to put it in the trash once you’re finished with it.
Even though this version is made out of 100 percent recycled material, and Pinsky commends this, the end result is still the same.
“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, incinerators, our communities, and the environment. Amazon must do better, ditch single-use plastic packaging, and transition to reuse and refill systems,” says Pinsky.”
11. Prime Now gel pack
Credit: AMAZON
Gel packs are not recyclable and should be thrown out, Amazon’s website states.
12. Amazon Fresh dry ice plastic film
Credit: Amazon
This plastic film covers the dry ice blocks used to keep Amazon Fresh groceries at the right temperature. It can’t be recycled, Amazon’s website says.
13. Prime Now Paper Bag and Amazon Fresh Paper Bag
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon
Since they’re paper, Amazon’s Prime Now and Fresh Paper Bags are recyclable through most curbside recycling programs.
14. Prime Now insulated pouch
Credit: Amazon
Amazon’s Prime Now insulated pouches are tricky to recycle. Amazon recommends that you first take out the insulating pad from the plastic mailer and cut the pad open to remove the plastic film. Then it says you can recycle the plastic film and mailer where #4 plastic is accepted, and the natural fiber pad where #60 cotton is accepted.
Amazon should list #4 film plastic on its website not #4 plastic, as many curbside programs accept rigid #4 plastic, but will not take any film plastics, Hoover wrote in an email.
15. Amazon Fresh water bottle
Credit: Amazon
This is just a water bottle and can be recycled in most curbside recycling programs. Amazon states on its website that these water bottles are used to cool items like food, but you can also drink the water, so don’t let it go to waste.
16. Foil bubble insulation bag
Credit: Amazon
Amazon says foil insulation can’t be recycled and should be thrown out.
17. Amazon Fresh Cardboard Box
Credit: Amazon
The Amazon Fresh Cardboard Box can be recycled like Amazon’s Prime Now and Fresh Paper Bag, however, you should take off the tape before you recycle it, Amazon’s website states.
18. Amazon Fresh dry ice pouch
Credit: Amazon
The Amazon Fresh dry ice pouch can’t be recycled, so you have to chuck it in the trash can.
19. Produce bag
Credit: Amazon
Again, because the product has plastic film it may be tricky to recycle because the film often gets stuck in recycling centers’ machinery. Amazon says some cities offer curbside recycling for its produce bag, but when not available, you can “use designated store drop-off locations where plastic film is accepted.”
It’s worth checking where you can recycle it first. Amazon provides a website to find a drop-off location to do so, but you should do your own research and ask your supermarket if they accept the film, says Pinsky.
20. Bottom board and paper insulation
Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon
Both products are made of 100 percent cardboard. As such, Amazon says you can recycle both in your curbside recycling program.
UPDATE: Dec. 10, 2020, 9:56 a.m. EST This story has been updated and republished to include some of Amazon’s more recent sustainability initiatives, statistics on how much packaging material the company has eliminated, how to access Amazon’s recycling and discard instructions, additional comments and an updated quote from Greenpeace expert David Pinsky on both plastic film as well as Amazon’s available recycling and discard instructions, and packaging options not included in the original article.
UPDATE: Jul. 8, 2022, 9:45 a.m. EDT This story has been updated and republished again with recent initiatives and statistics.
