How to Reuse & Recycle Envelopes Using Sticky Labels

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Envelope Recycling Labels

Envelope Recycling has caused some people real problems, with some local authorities deciding that stamps, gummed edges and the dreaded plastic windows mean that envelopes are not suitable for recycling. After reading about the dilemma of envelope recycling I decided to investigate a much better way of dealing with this problem - REUSE them.

It is often forgotten that recycling is lower down the waste management hierarchy than reusing and luckily there are organizations that are ready to help us reuse our envelopes. This lens contains a list of envelope recycling label suppliers.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Household waste management

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An Easy Household Guide (Chelsea Green Guides)

Amazon Price: $2.41 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

This excellent book gives direct, practical and simple advise on how to reduce, reuse and recycle waste at home. With its A to Z of how to recycle household items this is an ideal publication for those learning about basic waste management techniques that will benefit the environment.

Do You Reuse and Recycle?

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Sticky Envelope Reusing/recycling Labels

Links to providers of envelope recycling labels

recycling/reusing labels - Trees for LifeA few friends of mine introduced me to this idea, which is quite disingeniously referred to as envelope recycling labelling by some, when in fact it is envelope reusing.

The idea is just to stick a new label over the old address or plastic window, write on the new address and use tape to close the envelope and use it again!

Brilliant! No need to waste energy processing the envelope for recycling, just use it again, and again, and again. I guess, however, there is a point at which it eventually becomes unusable.

Suppliers of Envelope Recycling Labels

Links to envelope recycling label suppliers

reusing/recycling labels - Barn Owl TrustThe great thing about these labels is that many charities and worthy causes supply them, just choose your favourite cause and buy!

Here is a list of suppliers of envelope recycling labels:


World Wildlife Fund; 50 labels for £4.50
Recycled Paper Supplies; 50 labels for £2.75
Green Party of New Zealand; 100 labels for $7 NZ
Trees for Life; 100 labels for £3.50
Thatu; 50 labels for £2.50; 100 labels for £4; 500 labels for £15
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers; 50 labels for £1.20
Barn Owl Trust; 50 labels for £1.40
Northern Friends Peace Board; 100 labels for £2.50
Woodland Trust; 100 labels for £3.99
Common Ground; 100 labels for £3.50 (£4.50 outside UK)
Progressive Resources Catalog; 100 labels for $4 US
Irish Peatland Conservation Council; 50 labels for 5 Euros
Spokes - The Lothian Cycle Campaign; 120 labels for £3
The Land Is Ours; 100 labels for £3.75
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (NZ); 100 labels for $5 NZ
Ecotopia; 50 labels for £1.99
Ecocentric; 100 labels for £4.50
Envelope Angel; 100 labels in dispensing box for £4.95
Green Metropolis; 50 labels for £1.75
StopJunkMail.org.uk; 50 labels for £2
Sumatran Orang Utan Society; 25 labels for £2.99
The Green Sationary Company; 100 labels for £2.95
Rabbit Welfare; 100 labels for £3.75
Surfers Against Sewage; 50 labels for £3.92
Animal Aid; 100 labels for £3.25
Cornwall Wildlife Trust; 50 labels for £3.50

Recycled Paper

Recycled paper for recycled envelopes

If you are going to reuse envelopes then it only makes sense to use recycled paper for writing on, drawing on and making photocopies on.

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Envelope Reusing/Recycling Tips

If you would prefer to recycle or reuse your envelopes without ordering sticky labels then here is a list of alternatives.

Please vote for your favourite method and add your own tips: remember, reusing is preferable to recycling.

Ackowledgements: A number of these tips came from How can I reuse or recycle used envelopes at recyclethis.co.uk

Shopping Lists

One of the simplest and quickest methods of reusin more...4 points

Use as Bookmarks

Instead of buying laminated bookmarks just stick a more...4 points

Use Envelopes for Storage

Keep small, easily lost items in old envelopes; th more...3 points

Make Pet Bedding

Use only the unglued parts of old envelopes, shred more...2 points

Compost Old Envelopes

Remove any plastic windows, shred the envelopes an more...1 point

Make Notepads

Cut out the parts of old envelopes that have no wr more...1 point

Tape underneath drills to collect dust

If you are doing a little DIY tape an old envelope more...1 point

Envelopes Made From Reused Material

If you are going to recycle and reuse old envelopes then why not use envelopes that are made from recycled materials? These cool envelopes are made from the pages of old books and maps. Take a look, they are nice and require envelope recycling address labels for use.

Map Envelopes A2 with Labels and peel and stick flap set of 6 | Price: $8

Each map envelope is traced, cut, scored, folded and glued by me. They are made from various vintage and outdated maps. Some are street maps, some a... (full description)

| Price: $0

(full description)

Handmade Upcycled Book Envelopes comic envelopes bookelopes (6) with labels | Price: $8

Handmade Upcycled Book Envelopes comic envelopes bookelopes (6) with labels

These 6 envelopes are from a discarded copy of an Asterix comic. Maybe... (full description)

Recycling Lenses - Some great recycling advice

These are some of the best recycling lenses I have found. If you know of others which are of the same high quality let me know and I will add them here.

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Some Interesting Recycling Websites

For those committed to reusing and recycling these websites will be of interest.

How Can I Recycle This
Ask and Answer Questions for Suggestions on Recycling.
Recycle Now
Advice and Ideas on Recycling.
Recycle More
Help and advice on all aspects of recycling at home, at school and in the workplace

Recycling on Blogs

recycling-logo
Recycling firm apologises for waste left on Goole docks
The refuse, brought to Goole docks by Leeds Paper Recycling, was left there without proper authorisation, the Environment Agency said. The recycling firm said it was working with the authorities "to speedily resolve the matter".
Recycling in Summit Saves Taxpayer Dollars and the Environment
If it has the embossed recycling triangle with any number 1-7, you can recycle it. The only plastics you cannot recycle are plastic bags, shrink wrap, and Styrofoam containers. As for paper recycling, the guideline is ?if it rips, recycle it.
Thieves inflicting paper cut$ on city
Sly scrap bandits have taken to swiping bags of paper and cardboard left on curbs for the city's Sanitation Department, following a dramatic rise in the value of the recyclable material, officials said. Mixed paper has more than doubled in price over ...
Redishred Capital Corp. Announces First Quarter 2012 Results Highlighting ...
-Recycling system sales declined 24% over the first quarter of 2011 as a result of the decrease in the price of recycled paper products. -Royalty revenue for the first quarter of 2012 was $201000 CDN. Royalty and service revenues are generated by ...

Kids Recycling Handbook

Green Tips for children

Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

Get your kids into the reusing and recycling mindset from an early age with this simple guide to recycling aimed at youngsters.

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Recycling - Please leave a comment

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Do you use envelope recycling labels? Have you got a recycling or environmental lens? if you do please feel welcome to link to it here. Alternatively just comment on the lens.

  • bloomingrose May 2, 2012 @ 9:40 pm | delete
    Excellent lens - about reusing envelopes but many other great environmental tips. Angel Blessed and pinned to my board: Nature and loving the Earth.
  • BobBlackUK Oct 13, 2011 @ 3:44 am | delete
    When banks etc, write to me they often include a reply envelope. I recycle the letter and other bumf but stick a blank sticky label on the envelope ready for reuse.
  • apsmacart Jul 31, 2011 @ 10:00 am | delete
    Recycling is great. It really save save a huge amount of trees. We at http://ChurchOfferingEnvelopes.net use 100% recycled paper stock to produce our envelopes. Glad to so many others that care, as well.
  • buntyross May 5, 2011 @ 9:52 pm | delete
    Yeah using recycles paper for envelopes saves the environment in many ways.
  • admiralglass Nov 25, 2010 @ 5:14 am | delete
    Hi great lens and some nice tips xxxxx
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About The Lens Author

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by

nickupton

The environment has always been something in the forefront of my mind ever since I was a child going for country walks with my father.
Since I was 7...
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Recycling Bin 

Suncast Recycle Bin Kit BH183PK

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Organize your recycling at home with these color-coded, stacking recycling bins. A great way to save space whilst recycling.

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Recycling Bags 

Go Green! Recycling Bags (set of 3) Color Coded

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