Donate Packaging Materials

    • Businesses and individuals reuse the donated materials. Items must be clean and reusable.

    • Donations should be in paper bags. No plastic or boxes please.

    • Due to demand, we may pause collection on certain items or collect items for a limited time. Always check the list before donating materials.

    • Remove all receipts and personal items from donations. Personal items found will be kept for 7 days before donation or disposal.

    • Torn

    • Covered in Tape

    • Sticky residue

    • Dirty

    • Holes

    • Deflated bubbles

    • Ink stains

  • When removing personal information.

    • Do not cut a hole into the product, holes make items NOT reusable

    • When covering with marker, allow the ink to dry to avoid ink stains. Ink stains make items NOT reusable

    • Do not remove labels as it leaves a sticky residue. Sticky Residue makes items NOT reusable

  • If you have more than 2 grocery bags worth of materials, drop off at our storage unit or a collection event. Collection points will become overwhelmed with large drop offs. Learn more here.

  • Due to the large amount of donations that we receive, we cannot be held responsible for lost items. Any items found will be held in our lost and found for 7 days before they are donated.

Items Accepted - New and Used

  • Plastic Bubble Mailers

    All sizes and colors are accepted. Must have bubble padding.

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

    • Do not cut label out

    • No UPS, USPS, or FedEx mailers.

  • Poly Bags

    All sizes and colors are accepted.

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

    • No USPS, UPS, or FedEx

    • Do not cut label out

  • Clear Poly Bags

    All sizes and brands are accepted, as long as they are clean.

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

    • No Food bags or Ziploc bags

    • Any bags that have been in contact with food, oils, or dirt will not be accepted by us.

    • Remove any receipts and garbage.

  • Bubble Wrap

    Small and large bubbles of any color are accepted. Bubbles must be inflated.

    • No deflated bubbles

    • No Air Pillows

    • Remove all tape

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Packing Peanuts

    All colors and types (foam and starch) are accepted.

    • Place in secure packaging and keep separate from all other items. Do not mix with other items.

  • Packing Paper

    All colors accepted. Please fold the paper before dropping off. Balled up paper will not be accepted.

    • No used Tissue paper (unless brand new)

    • No wadded paper from shoes

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Honeycomb Packing Paper

    Leave any tissue paper that comes with it - it’s part of the packaging.

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Corrugated Bubble Wrap

    This item will be thick and upcycled from cardboard boxes.

    • Free from holes, tears, dirt, sticky residue, ink stains

  • Paper Shred

    All colors are accepted.

    • No private documents and personal mail shred

    • Place in secure packaging and keep separate from all other items.

  • Foam Packing Sheets

    Only thin and flexible sheets will be accepted.

    • NO Styrofoam or thick (>1/4”) pieces of foam.

    • Recycle Styrofoam at DART (7575 S Kostner Ave) or Rogers Park (6441 N Ravenswood Ave).

  • Thermal Insulated Bags

    Clean, dry and free from debris

    Reminder, these will be reused by others.

    No ice packs.

  • Vinyl Record Mailers

    Accepted at all drop-off sites, our storage unit, and collection event.

  • Organza Bags

    All sizes of unbranded organza bags accepted

    • Designs are okay (e.g. stars, polka dots, etc).

    • No branded bags

  • Packing Tape

    Clear or tan accepted. Used rolls accepted if there is an acceptable amount of tape left

    • No duct tape, electrical tape, craft tape, painter’s tape, or double sided tape.

  • Stretch and Shrink Wrap

    Can be used, but there must be an acceptable amount left on the roll.

    Only accepted at the Storage Unit or Collection Events

  • Paper Grocery Bags

    Standard size paper grocery bags, with or without handles.

    Only accepted at our Storage Unit or at Collection Events

    Bags are only accepted at collection points if you’re dropping off materials in them.

Items Accepted - New

  • Tissue Paper

    Only NEW tissue paper accepted

    • No used

  • Kraft Bubble Mailers

    Only NEW Kraft padded mailers accepted

    • No used

  • Recyclable Padded Mailers

    Only NEW recyclable padded mailers accepted

    • No used

Items Accepted - Limited Time

  • Boxes

    Gently used and brand new boxes will be accepted at our storage unit ONLY.

    Boxes MUST be broken down.

  • Thermal Reusable Bags

    Thermal insulated bags are accepted at all drop-off sites, our storage unit, and collection events. Please make sure that there are no holes and that the inside is clean.

  • Air Pillows

    Air Pillows will be accepted at The Sustainability Market on September 29th ONLY. Please do not drop these off at our drop-off sites.

    Please ensure that all air pillows are inflated. Deflated air pillows are not accepted.

  • Egg Cartons (12 ct.)

    These will be accepted by Reduce Waste Chicago at The Sustainability Market on September 29th. Please do not drop these off at our drop-off sites.

  • Plastic Utensils

    Both loose utensils and sets will be accepted accepted at The Sustainability Market on September 29th ONLY. Please do not drop these off at our drop-off sites.

  • Reusable Bags/Ikea Bags

    Bags that are clean and do not have holes in them, will be accepted at The Sustainability Market on September 29th ONLY. Please do not drop these off at our drop-off sites.

No Longer Accepted

  • Used Kraft Bubble Mailers

    **Currently NOT Accepting due to no demand.

  • Used Recyclable Mailers

    **Currently NOT Accepting due to no demand.

Items Not Accepted

If you don’t see an item above, we do not accept it. A list of common items we do not accept can be found here.

We encourage you to recycle or donate these items to organizations that accept them.

Resources