what to do with all the packing materials
Plastic Furniture Wrap
- Chances are, your mover will want to remove all the protective plastic from the furniture and discard it, but most of this plastic is recyclable.
- Clean plastic wrap can be recycled along with plastic grocery bags, dry cleaning bags, and other clean, dry #4 plastics at grocery stores and big box stores in the area. Some nearby locations are: Grand Food Center / Winnetka, Mariano's Grocery Store / Northfield, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's / Glenview, Northbrook
Cardboard Boxes
- Cardboard boxes can survive up to four moves, so Go Green Winnetka encourages new homeowners to "recycle" their cardboard boxes by offering them to other people through websites such as Freecycle, Nextdoor, and Facebook Marketplace. These types of materials can be very popular and are usually snatched up pretty quickly. Just place them in an easily accessible spot and remove the listing once the boxes are gone.
- If a box has no life left in it, it can be flattened and placed on the curb on recycling day.
Bubble Wrap
- Bubble wrap can be reused, but if you end up with more than you can store in your home, try making it available on Freecycle, Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace—or any other appropriate social media site.
- Clean bubble wrap with no labels or tape can be dropped off at any location that collects plastic bags for recycling. Some nearby locations are: Grand Food Center / Winnetka, Mariano's Grocery Store / Northfield, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's / Glenview, Northbrook
Wrapping Foam
- Wrapping foam is not recyclable. Please save for reuse or give to someone who can use it through any of the aforementioned social media sites.
Packing Paper
- Packing paper can be reused. Make it available on Freecycle, Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace—or any other appropriate social media site.
- Clean packing paper can also be recycled in regular curbside recycling.
Polystyrene, aka "Styrofoam"
- Polystyrene is not recyclable through the Village's curbside collection service. The Village of Winnetka offers drop-off hours for clean block and food service polystyrene on Mondays from 1–3 pm at the Public Works building at 1390 Willow Road. Follow the signs and drive to the back of the building complex after you go through the gate. Polystyrene packing peanuts are not accepted at the Village drop-off.
- Polystyrene can also be recycled at Abt Electronics, 1200 N Milwaukee Ave, Glenview.
Polystyrene Packing Peanuts
- Polystyrene packing peanuts can be reused over and over again. If you are unable to store them in your home for future use, place them—along with your other moving supplies—on any of the aforementioned online sites for people to pick up and reuse.
- Polystyrene packing peanuts can be recycled by bringing them to the UPS Store in Winnetka. They are not accepted at the Village polystyrene recycling drop-off.
- Many of today's packing peanuts are made of biodegradable wheat or cornstarch. If they dissolve in water, they are not polystyrene! These peanuts should not be recycled with polystyrene. Instead, they should be reused and then dissolved in water or composted when you are done with them.
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Before Your Move
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Before Your Move
Village of Winnetka Services
Before Your Move
Check out our guide for making your move more eco-friendly even before the big truck shows up.
Village of Winnetka Services
Village of Winnetka Services
Village of Winnetka Services
Find out more about curbside recycling, the Village food scrap drop off program, special item recycling for electronics, polystyrene, athletic shoes, etc., and more.
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It's a busy month for environmentalists! We've got information on everything from film festivals to compost facility tours to legislative lobby days. There's something for everyone. If you've been looking for a reason to take action, look no further than the opportunities on our events page.