Did you know all of the Start with Soap paper packaging can be composted or recycled?

First, cut out any wire ties and remove any staples. Then, follow this guide.

Uncoated paper bags – compost or recycle

Your soap flakes are typically packed in this type of bag. It’s like a paper lunch bag.

Repurpose the bag to your heart’s content, and then eventually toss it in the compost or recycling.

Translucent glassine bags – compost or recycle

You might mistake glassine for wax paper or parchment paper, but it’s not! Glassine is a paper product that is water resistant (although not water proof). It protects individual items from moisture during transit.

You can probably find some cool ways to repurpose these bags! At end of life, toss them in the compost or recycling.

Coated paper bags – compost only

Your laundry powder and ecobleach are typically packed in this type of bag. It has a smooth, shiny coating on the interior, which provides protection against moisture and leaking of fine powders. The coating material is PLA, which is biodegradable and compostable.

Due to the coating, this type of bag is likely not accepted by your curbside recycling program. But it is compostable!

So see if you can find another use for it, and then eventually compost.

Other paper and cardboard – compost or recycle

But first, see if you can repurpose it! Around our home, if we can’t use a box for packing a Start with Soap order, we give it to our CSA to be used for packing farm orders. My sister gives hers to Natural Grocers (a grocery store that offers boxes instead of single-use bags to customers).

If you’re composting a cardboard box, be sure to remove packing tape and stickers first.

Please don’t just toss mason jars in the recycling!

Mason jars can be reused indefinitely! Reuse them yourself, give them to a friend who cans or makes jam, or offer them to someone who sells those items at the farmers’ market. Recycling is a last resort here!