Can I recycle padded envelopes?

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Three types of padded envelopes land in mailboxes. Paper envelopes with plastic bubble padding cannot be recycled in Los Angeles’ blue recycling bins because the mix of paper and plastic isn’t easy to separate. Paper envelopes padded with shredded paper, however, and plastic envelopes padded with plastic bubbles both can be recycled in the blue bin.

Because policies and recommendations can vary from city to city, each week we ask a sampling of officials from various municipalities to weigh in. Can you recycle padded envelopes in ...

Burbank: Not curbside. Plastic envelopes padded with plastic bubbles can be recycled at the Burbank Recycle Center.
Glendale: No.
Long Beach: Yes, but only plastic envelopes padded with plastic bubbles.
Los Angeles: Yes, but only paper padded with paper or plastic padded with plastic.
Manhattan Beach: Yes, all types.
Riverside: Yes, but only paper padded with paper.
Santa Monica: Yes, but only paper padded with paper.
Torrance: Yes, all types.
Unincorporated L.A. County: Yes, all types.
Ventura: Yes, but only plastic padded with plastic.

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-- Susan Carpenter