The word on those pesky packing peanuts and ideas for an eco-goodbye!
Polystyrene loose-fill packing materials, more commonly known as “packing peanuts”, actually only contain about 0.4% polystyrene resin. The other 99.6% is simply air. That could be why it didn’t take long to produce an eco-friendly alternative – the cornstarch peanut – which is 100% biodegradable and can be tossed in the compost pile. The Styrofoam version cannot be recycled and is a problem when it ends up in the landfill. The bottom-line, either way, is that packing peanuts end up as clutter in many offices and households.
What’s the answer, you ask? Of course we have it here at the headquarters of How to Get Organized and Save the Planet in 30 Days!
PLASTIC
• Many packaging stores (like UPS and Mail Boxes, Etc.) will take your peanuts and packing material.
•You can use a drop-off or mail-back program such as the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers. Since EPS is extremely lightweight, it can be economically shipped to a regional collection location, but in most cases reuse is your best disposal bet for those old peanuts.
CORNSTARCH
• Toss the cornstarch peanuts in the compost. (Don’t eat them, man. contrary to a recent ad campaign, it’s not a vegetable!)
• If you don’t compost
• Cut up/shred the peanuts with scissors and mix with potted plant soil. The peanuts will break down and dissolve into the compost or soil over time.
or
• Fill a large bucket or trashcan with the packing peanuts. Add hot water to dissolve the peanuts. After the packing peanuts have dissolved, pour the starch residue and water down a drain.
AN ALTERNATIVE
Finally, for a packing peanut alternative, use shredded paper. If you don’t have a shredder to protect yourself from identity theft, we strongly recommend you get one. If you do, and ideally if it’s a cross-cut shredder, it’s a great packing matierial alternative. A different messy problem to plastic peanuts, but on both ends its recyclable.