How can I reuse or recycle … ‘waxed’ label sheets?

Sheet of labelsWhen he can be bothered, John writes a hideously geeky webcomic and we sell tshirts based on the “characters”. To ease the whole packaging and posting process, I use laser-printed mailing labels and while I try to minimise waste by only printing in full sheets of 21 labels at a time (I always need return address stickers), there is always a sheet of A4 ‘waxed’ paper left after I peel off the labels.

I doubt it’s properly waxed paper but it’s got a kinda non-stick coating on it so the labels peel off easily. My betting is that said ‘wax’ is more than likely to be plastic-based so potentially throws up some issues for recycling.

Does anyone know if these spent sheets can be recycled with normal printer paper? And either way, does anyone have any ideas for how these sheets could be re-used around the home or office? I also end up with loads of small ‘waxed’ sheets from customs and Airmails stickers so any suggestions for smaller sizes would be great too.


10 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle … ‘waxed’ label sheets?”


  1. Jeff says:

    Use them to pick up things that you don’t want your hands to touch

    or keep some handy to test print labels on

  2. yogahz says:

    Cut out patterns and use them as stencils for painting.

    Slide down a slide on one to make it slipperier (if it is wax).

    They can’t be worse than the boxes that frozen foods come in. I’d recycle in the mixed paper bin (not white printer paper).

  3. fishcake_random says:

    how about popping discs of it wax side down on the bottom of tabl legs etc so stop them scratching a wooden floor.

  4. Nigello says:

    You could use them as a substitute for plates, for cakes or biccies etc, so then you would save on washing up. Or you could use them as liners for biscuit tins or cake tins etc.

  5. Kato says:

    The coating is silicone. I would not use it with food.

  6. trishlovesdolphins says:

    punch holes in them, put them in a binder, and let you kids start a sticker book

  7. Amber says:

    I also used them for stickers when I was a kid. You can Cut them in half and fold them over and stickers can be put in and removed.

    You should be able to print on the back of the sheet. I would reuse it upside down as regular printer paper for printing important documents.

  8. WAX MAN says:

    MY GOD… try and get a life, just chuck the stuff out

  9. ecomonster says:

    I cut them into different shapes and seal envelopes with them.
    If you don’t need them I’m currently accepting donations for any kind of stickers.
    http://ecomonster.com/?page_id=24

  10. Wax Paper Consumer says:

    What WAX MAN said.



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