Recycling Gift Cards

A friend just emailed me to ask if gift cards can be recycled. I had never actually thought about it, but thanks to the magic of Google, I have an answer!

Yes, gift cards can be recycled.



Earthworks launched a Retailer Gift Card Return Program in January, which allows retailers and consumers to send their used plastic gift cards (and membership cards, library cards, etc.) to be recycled.

According to Yahoo!, some companies, like Borders Books, REI, Target, and Wal-Mart, use bio-plastics for their gift cards, which means they can be composted.

However, many gift cards are still made of PVC -- a plastic that is pretty toxic to produce and not widely recycled. Therefore, if you want to recycle them, you will need to mail them to Earthworks.

Earthworks System, LLC
33200 Bainbridge Road, Suite E
Solon, OH 44139

You might also suggest to local stores that they collect them and mail them in as well!