I just received a package from Amazon. On the package, there was a recycling symbol printed in two places. Under each symbol was the following statement: “THIS NEW PACKAGE IS RECYCLABLE”. The package was two layers of brown wrapping paper with a cushioned layer in between. I was very excited to have a padded envelope that was recyclable until I cut the two layers to discover shredded Styrofoam was the padded layer. UGH!
This packaging is NOT RECYCLABLE. I checked with the manager of the Balcones recycling facility here in Austin. This is what he said, "The material is not recyclable in its current form. The mixed material of paper and foam makes the material incompatible with paper recycling. There isn’t a way to remove the two different types of material from each other."
This package can be reused for mailing but must be thrown in the trash cart (rather than the blue recycling cart) when it can no longer be used.
I reached out to Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, but have heard nothing yet. I use Amazon a lot and am very disappointed that they are promoting something as recyclable when it is not. It is especially frustrating with recycling contamination being such a huge issue.
Please pass the word.
