You’ve just unpacked your meal kit and enjoyed a fresh dinner. Now you’re left with those bulky ice packs—sturdy, reusable, but piling up fast. Should you toss them, reuse them, or recycle them? Here’s how to handle ice packs responsibly and keep them out of the landfill.
Can You Recycle Meal Kit Ice Packs?
Yes – but not in your standard recycling bin.
Meal kit ice packs are considered a flexible film, made of polyethylene (PE) plastic, which is recyclable through special film recycling programs. Film recycling is generally not accepted for curbside recycling. Tossing your meal kit ice packs in the blue bin can actually mess up the recycling process for all the other items that can be recycled this way.
How Do I Recycle It?
- Store Drop-off: Many grocery stores (think Target, Walmart, Kroger, and even your local chain) have bins for plastic film recycling.
- Municipal Depot: Some municipalities have their own managed locations that residents can take their films to directly.
- Subscription Services: Some companies, like Ridwell, offer doorstep pickup or mail-in for plastic film.
- Specialty Curbside Recycling: Some communities do offer a specific curbside film recycling program, like Hefty ReNew™, allow consumers to fill designated receptacles and leave outside their home for pickup, like standard curbside recycling.
Find out what film recycling options are available for you, including your closest Store Drop-off using our Map Tool.
Prep Before You Drop
Before you drop off your meal kit ice packs for recycling, make sure to take these small steps to ensure it actually gets recycled.
- Drain the Liquid or Gel: Cut open the ice pack and empty the contents into the trash (not down the drain, unless the packaging specifically says it’s safe).
- Rinse and Dry: Rinse out any residue and let the plastic dry completely.
- Bundle Your Film: No matter how you’re recycling your film, it’s most efficient to gather a lot of items together. You can do this in a plastic shopping bag or your designated film recycling receptacle. Recycling in bulk not only saves time but also supports better recycling practices.
What Happens to Recycled Meal Kit Ice Packs?
When processed through film recycling programs, these flexible plastics are given a second life as useful products, including:
- Composite Decking & Lumber: Construction materials are one of the most common end markets for recycled films.
- Garbage Bags & Liners: Many trash bags and can liners are made with recycled film content.
- Product Overwrap: The clear plastic wrap you see around cases of water bottles, paper towels, or other bulk items often contains recycled film.
- Other Uses: Recycled film can also be used in playground equipment, park benches, and even new plastic bags.
Recycling meal kit ice packs isn’t complicated, but it does require following the right steps. By cleaning, drying, and using designated drop-off locations, you’re taking all the right steps to get these materials to recycling facilities and kept out of the landfills.
