I use ones without windows to store seeds I’ve collected in. I don’t know if the light potentially coming in through the window would make much of a difference but I hate wasting seeds so don’t risk it.

One is in the kitchen now, with the shopping list being added to it, as and when we run out of stuff. We’ve always done that - doesn’t everybody..?!?

If you open them carefully, you should be able to reuse them.

If it’s a plastic window envelope then it’s easy. With the others you’ll need to clearly cross out the address (or use a sticky label over it or something).

Though if you do use a sticky label and maybe sticky-tape the envelope shut, you’ve probably created more equivalent waste. :/

You can get gummed labels that will go over the open part of the envelope to seal it, and cover the original address.

Friends of the Earth charge £2.00 per 100:
http://www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/pubscat/reduce_waste.html#reuse_l

Trees for Life charge £3.50 per 100:
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/products/envelope_reuse_labels.html

When I’m drilling into a wall, I stick an old envelope underneath to catch the brickdust so it doesn’t go everywhere. It’s not perfect but it helps a lot.

SaraR

If you get junkmail for magazines and subscriptions, you will usually get a second envelope inside your junkmail. This is intact, and is used to mail the subscription sheet back to the magazine company. Just put a label over their address. (Most of the time, it also says Prepaid in the stamp area. You can save 39 cents on your next letter, but I am not sure if this is legal.)

If you’re in the UK (which I guess Emanla isn’t but other people might be), you can avoid junkmail in the first place by registering with the Mail Preference Service - http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/.

I did it for us a few years ago - it only took a couple of minutes and really reduced the amount of junk we get. The only stuff we get now is either direct delivered or from someone we’re a customer with eg, our internet provider wanting to sell us tv services or our bank wanting to sell us wine. Bah.

-louisa

Collect the “second” envelopes I was talking about as a hobby. Collect enough to fill up a whole brown bag. Then keep them on your curbside for recycling.

They make good labels for piles of paper that are trying to find their way to filing (or being dealt with) — very distinctive and, of course, in ample supply.

There are now purpose made reusable envelopes called Shuttlepost that can be used many times,
the envelopes are available in various sizes from CD / DVD envelopes, DL, C5 or standard royal mail and larger.

[…] I thought it couldn’t hurt to come up with a few more reuse suggestions. We’ve already covered envelopes so anything specific that brown paper is good […]

My mom used to craft things from brown paper by making paper mache. Also she would make angels “gowns” from crumpled and painted brown paper. Of course it it also good to use instead of styrofoam for mailing material.

As our local council paper recycling collections don’t include envelopes (because of the glue) we remove any windows, shred the envelopes and compost them. I have also seen bags of shredded paper offered on freecycle for pet bedding. Before we had a computer and hence some scrap paper, I used to cut the envelopes into sheets of notepad size, then thread them together on string for shopping lists etc.

Can you not just remove the sticky flap and window (If applicable) and then put them in the paper recycling?

Some places won’t take the glued parts because it contaminates the paper in the recycling process. I’ve been ripping off the glued parts and plastic windows and putting the remains in the recycling, but the suggestion about shredding and using in compost is much more sensible! :)

Okay, but if the glue is going to contaminate the recycling, what is it going to do to your compost?

How can I recycle the plastic envelopes that the radio Times is sent in, and otheer publications? I have heard there is a place that recycles these but cannot locate it.

Hi Connie,

That’s a good question - I’ll use it as the post on the site tomorrow.

-louisa

Emania mentions using prepaid reply envelopes sent by junk mailers with new address labels stuck on and queries the legality of this. I cannot see that these envelopes are any different to envelopes with a first or second class stamp stuck on them. The junk mail company has, as the name indicates, already paid for the postage, so the Post Office is not losing out. This is quite different to the FREEPOST address arrangement that some reply envelopes have, where the addressee is charged for each one that is franked.

Treat them as a gift from your junk mailer, along with the free biro, and enjoy using them!

How about collecting a bunch of envelopes then sort them out, staple
them together and there you go - once junk, now a pad of paper!

Further to the suggestion of buying sticky labels to put over the address so as to reuse envelopes, I have a list of charitable orgainsations that supply these labels. You can reuse the envelopes and support your favourite charity at the same time. Reuse Envelopes

Can’t seem to make the link work. Click on my name to go to the list.

You can use clean junk mail envelopes to send notes, money or a check to school with your child.

Glue pretty picture on a front, and you can give a small gift in it or a card.

Practice origami.

Cut envelope in half and store some of your cards separately in your purse, if you don’t use them often.