The second worst thing about packing peanuts is how they stick to everything, flying around the room like insects. The worst thing about them is their large carbon footprint. Here are some other things to do with them that will keep them out of a landfill...
- The best thing to do with them, of course, is to recycle them. Try your local pack and ship, FedEx or UPS or click over to Loose Fill Packaging.
- Use them instead of rocks or gravel in the bottom of your plant pots. Not only will they act to provide drainage but they'll make the pot lighter.
- Use them as filling for a dog or cat bed.
- Going on a picnic or camping? Fill plastic bags with packing peanuts and place them around your ice and cold foods to keep everything cool
- Going boating? Tie a few packing peanuts to your keys or your children's toys so that in case they go overboard, they'll float
- Sprayed with perfume, they can deodorize a room.
- String them into a garland and use them to decorate your holiday tree.
- Use them in craft projects; let your children glue them together to create buildings or animals.
- Giving yourself a pedicure? Use packing peanuts to keep your toes splayed.
- How about a chandelier? Design*Sponge posted this one from jewelry designer Mollie Dash.
[image: Thrasher Dave, from his Flickr, with a Creative Commons License]
In number 1 you suggest that the best thing to do is recycle them. Might I suggest that better than recycling is to re-use them for their intended purpose? I keep a small bag in my closet for shipping.
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Use #2 - in pots - this really works for large outdoor planters too. We have barrels that we plant every year and combine our peanuts with a little sand... then fresh soil - works great!
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