Is the transparent window from business envelopes recyclable?

Question

Is the transparent window from business envelopes recyclable? I've always been clipping it and tossing it out with the trash, before putting the paper envelope in the recycle bin. Is the type of plastic that it is made of among those that are recyclable? This'd just be something good to know, one more way our family could help the environment. Thanks for your input!

Answer 1

Sign up for junk mail and you will be estatic!  It will be subsidized by the poatal service when they raise the price of stamps to 41 cents.  In this case more is less - take your family to the park and forgetaboutit.

Answer 2

There are two parts to this answer:

First, there are two main types of windows in envelopes; mylar (the clear shiny stuff) and translucent pressed paper (made of paper).

Second, the pressed paper stuff is totally recyclable, everywhere that envelopes are recyclable, and the mylar is accepted in some places.

So to put it another way, if your region says 'no window envelopes', they actually mean no mylar - pressed paper windows are OK; but my region (the Greater Vancouver Regional District) recently started accepting ALL window envelopes. I guess they have a new processing method that removes the mylar.

Short answer: call the recycling hotline at your garbage department. That's the only way to be sure. And learn to recognise pressed paper windows; they are kind of milky translucent, and they aren't shiny like plastic. :-))

Answer 3

im sure it is. is plastic

Answer 4

You do not need to remove plastic windows or staples from paper when recycling it -- that is all removed mechanically during the recycling process. Just throw the envelopes/documents in your bin!

Incidentally, while staples can be recycled as scrap metal, the plastic windows are not recyclable if removed.

Answer 5

Yes it is. I have checked with my recycling company.

http://sunsetscavenger.com/recycling_inf...

Check out there web site.  Good question because not all plastic is recyclable.

Answer 6

i would think not have u ever burned a piece of plastic?, the smell alone will tell u that it is bad for the environment

Answer 7

I just did a google search to find this out, as I've been wondering the same thing. I found this page: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/BusinessCent... which says that you should remove the windows before recycling these envelopes. And a friend who was very clued-up on green issues told me several years ago that the windows (and staples in documents) should be removed, prior to recycling, as they weren't recyclable. But another friend told me recently that the paper gets processed at the plant and non-recyclable elements get removed. I would say check with your local authority which types of plastics they can recycle, and ask directly about the windows in envelopes.

Answer 8

Just so you know your efforts will bear no affect what so ever until the problem is considered be our leaders. No one is guilt free from raping the planet, no matter how much you recycle! Go Earth. Signed Captin planet...