Used bubble envelopes - What to do with them?

[reoddai]

Re-use > recycle > throwing them away

I do a double re-use. I re-use old mailers, but I also take old pieces of paper (like junk mail envelopes), turn them inside out. Generally the insides are clean paper. I can write address on those sections, cut them up and tape those over the old addresses. They look pretty clean after that.

If you really don't want to re-use, the proper way to recycle them it to tear them open along the seam, then tear out the bubbles. Some envelopes make it easier than others. Some you can never tear this way, but you can at least try. Once you've removed the bubbles from the paper outside, you can recycle the paper and check your local recycling rules to see if the bubbles can be recycled. Some areas can handle them some can't. The problem is that without a recycle mark its hard to differentiate the polymers. I mean, how do you tell PVA from PVC from PS from HDPE from LDPE from PMMA if they're all processed clear?

Finally, before you decide to throw them out, consider this. You can always try to rub out the old addresses (eraser, scissors, a piece of tape to rip away the top layer) and sell them. People buy them new at 0.20$. Why not offer to sell yours for 0.05$ or just for s/h? You may not make any money, but you're saving your municipality from having to pay for their disposal.

Cheers,
reoddai

[Ray33]

If you don't want them. Send them to me, Ill take them.

This is something I've had on my mind for a while. Many of us get bubble envelopes from trades and purchases in the mail but afterwards, many of us have different solutions. I know some people reuse them to mail out cards, but personally, I do not because I get my envelopes fairly cheap and I don't want to forward someone else's address on to another person. Not to mention, I like the relatively clean unused look when sending.

With that said, my dilemma comes down to how to dispose of envelopes. While many people might throw them straight in the garbage, I try to recycle things whenever I can. If the envelopes are entirely plastic, I recycle them. But with the regular bubble envelopes I feel guilty just throwing them in the garbage although I don't know if they can be recycled. How do you dispose of your used envelopes?

In addition, if you also have other tips or have other uses for used envelopes, feel free to share them since other members might be interested in reading your ideas or other uses for them.

[BigFloppy]

Don't forget your 3 R's:

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

[Stumpybc]

and the big 4th R, 'Rethink'

[durangatang]

100% I re-use my bubble mailers...100%. What's wrong with it? We already spend enough money on this hobby. Even in my ebay listings I state that I send using old bubble mailers to keep shipping costs down. I think its silly not to re-use them.

I agree. Why not reuse? I reuse mine. I just tape the new address over the old one.

[odjickfan]

I reuse them, but stick them inside a plain manila envelope to maintain that clean look. Actually looks better than a bubble mailer....until you open it.

As for having someone else's address on it, I don't see it as a huge issue. I try it black out but it still legible if you really look hard. But, really, if you care that much about your address not being put out there then your in the wrong hobby.

I do the same thing.

[SkyFire47]

wow why throw away money it doesent matter how cheap you can get them for money adds up even if it is a dollar it doesent make sense to throw away a perfectly got bubble mailer if it is all beat up that is different but to throw them away becuse you can is senseless

and also its not cheap its being resoursfull and its not like people cant afford them it just makes sense to not spend money that doesent need to be spent

There's nothing wrong with re-sending cards in them. So long as they are still usable why not?

I have no problem sending cards, or recieving them in used envelopes.

But, if I were to buy or sell a card, I would expect a new envelope to be used.

i want to make sure my package gets to the other person safely. sometimes i get my bubble mailers, they're already beat up and the insides popped. the protection it gives is no longer there. the other problem is after you guys rip open a bubble mailer and reuse it, alot of people don't know how to properly reseal them to mail back out and/or waste an excessive amount of tape sealing it back up instead.

also, i dont' think of it as throwing away money. when i sell, i charge accordingly for shipping and the buyer covers the cost. when i trade, i know the other trader is also paying for shipping and supplies so the least i can do is reciprocate.

So you guys must never re use Top loaders or penny sleeves either hey? Must be nice to be millionaires.

Like Gilp says....why throw money away.

yes, for my own cards, i hate looking at scratched up top loaders so first thing i do is toss them out. i guess since i throw them out, i don't really have any to reuse for sending out traders. i'm by no means a millionnaire but penny sleeves, top loaders, and bubble mailers aren't by any means extravagent spending either.

i treat people how i want to be treated. you do a deal with me you and you get a brand spanking new penny sleeve, top loader (or magnetic one touch), team bag, and bubble mailer. if someone can put the effort into doing a deal with me for cards i want, i want to do the same and make sure they're happy when they receive their package.

You're gonna have to explain this one. You recycle them but yet you insult others for following the other Rs.....reduce and reuse. Plus, reusing them keeps shipping costs down, which, last time I checked, people like. Reusing old bubble mailer that are still in decent condition isn't cheap, it's resourceful.

shipping costs aren't affected by the condition of the bubble mailer you send. also, as i mention above in this post, condition of a bubble mailer to re-use is subjective. plus resourcefulness doesn't matter when people don't 1) reseal the mailer properly or 2) waste resources on tape.

from my own personal experiences, a bubble mailer actually does very little to actually protect your package. the only difference is that it is usually processed manually rather than by sorting machine at the post office. like people are with everything that's either new or old, post office workers see a beat up package and they'll throw it around like it's a beat up package. they see a nice, crisp new bubble mailer and they treat it a little more importantly. using up a new bubble mailer to possibly get people's extra consideration in handling a package isn't too big a sacrifice for me.

[gilp11]

i want to make sure my package gets to the other person safely. sometimes i get my bubble mailers, they're already beat up and the insides popped. the protection it gives is no longer there. the other problem is after you guys rip open a bubble mailer and reuse it, alot of people don't know how to properly reseal them to mail back out and/or waste an excessive amount of tape sealing it back up instead.

also, i dont' think of it as throwing away money. when i sell, i charge accordingly for shipping and the buyer covers the cost. when i trade, i know the other trader is also paying for shipping and supplies so the least i can do is reciprocate.




yes, for my own cards, i hate looking at scratched up top loaders so first thing i do is toss them out. i guess since i throw them out, i don't really have any to reuse for sending out traders. i'm by no means a millionnaire but penny sleeves, top loaders, and bubble mailers aren't by any means extravagent spending either.

i treat people how i want to be treated. you do a deal with me you and you get a brand spanking new penny sleeve, top loader (or magnetic one touch), team bag, and bubble mailer. if someone can put the effort into doing a deal with me for cards i want, i want to do the same and make sure they're happy when they receive their package.




shipping costs aren't affected by the condition of the bubble mailer you send. also, as i mention above in this post, condition of a bubble mailer to re-use is subjective. plus resourcefulness doesn't matter when people don't 1) reseal the mailer properly or 2) waste resources on tape.

from my own personal experiences, a bubble mailer actually does very little to actually protect your package. the only difference is that it is usually processed manually rather than by sorting machine at the post office. like people are with everything that's either new or old, post office workers see a beat up package and they'll throw it around like it's a beat up package. they see a nice, crisp new bubble mailer and they treat it a little more importantly. using up a new bubble mailer to possibly get people's extra consideration in handling a package isn't too big a sacrifice for me.

I don't think they care what the package looks like I'm sure they treat them all the same