Bubble wrap is mostly LDPE which is a recyclable plastic. Saying that, the main reason bubble wrap tends to get recycled is that at the sorting plant (MRF) bubble wrap is easy to identify and therefor can be extracted manually for baling at high levels of purity. This differs from many other film-like plastics which are harder to sort.
Bubble wrap
Plastic bubble wrap, Bubblewarp, Plastic wrap
Recyclable?
Blue Bins & Chutes
Other Recycling
Recommended
Recycling Bins & Chutes
Bubble wrap is welcome in blue bins.
We recently learned (Sep 2023) that bubble wrap in blue bins are actively baled and sold for recycling. Meaning you shoulf feel comfortable putting your bubble wrap in blue bins (aside from the risk of food contamination which is ever present in blue bins).
Whether it will get recycled in segregated bins depends a lot on who has the contract to collect those bins. Generally speaking, we believe the likelihood of bubble wrap being recycled will be much higher in blue bins than segregated bins.
Blue Bins
Segregated Bins
Alternative
Freecycle / Give Away
Give this away to small businesses that can reuse them.
Package Pals
Refind
Alternative
Freecycle / Give Away
Offer it online to individuals who may need it.
Share Our Plastic
Olio
GoodHood
Carousell
Online Freecycle Groups
