This has been a point of interest for me in recent years. Assuming that you're a loose collector, one of the downsides to getting sealed toys is the box or cardback/bubble that you'll inevitably throw away. I hate this because it feels wasteful. To help remedy this, I try to save the original packaging of select figures (3rd Party, G1 originals/reissues, Masterpieces, etc). However, I also buy new retail releases and that results in a lot of paper, plastic, and cardboard waste. It's gotten to the point that I recently acquired a heavy duty shredder to break down cardbacks and boxes. I like to use the shredded bits as packing material for shipments. I may be in the minority here, but I actually prefer the old plastic twist ties because I always found ways to reuse them (more so than their current paper counterparts). So, what do you reuse? What do you throw away? And does this excess waste bother you or do you just not think about it?
I rarely open anything, but when I do I keep the cardbacks and the little paper inserts from inside the bubble. Twist ties always keep. I recycle those plastic tie holders and also the bubbles. If it is a box style package, I'll keep everything inside the box.
I keep all the boxes for "high end" items, including MP's, 3rd party, and generally hard to find figures. I don't really know why. I guess I think to myself if I ever need a quick buck I could sell Herc, or MP-10, or the likes. I too miss the reusable twist ties. I used them quite often. I recycle everything else though. The city I live in picks up recycling bi-monthly, so it's made the recycling much easier now.
I keep everything. Most of my stuff is purchased online, so I pack up the card board backs in the box they came in and put them in storage. Never know when you'll find someone that wants a fig with the card.
I'm something of an anti-environmentalist, so I have absolutely no problem with throwing away garbage and stuff I don't need. Hell, I'd create even more waste if I could. As far as TFs, I only keep the packages for figures that are particularly fragile, just so I can repack them for safe transport when/if I move. For all other figures, I scan instructions, card/box backs, artwork, bios/stats and other interesting stuff into my computer and then throw the physical copies in the garbage (no recycling for me). I have kept a few of the small, clear rubber bands, since they're good for 'locking' MechTech/Powerizer weapons, but that's it.
Open bubble/box. Remove toy & accessories. Box/card & bubble go into the recycling bin along with any paperwork inside like instructions and ads. There are a good number of boxes I do keep, but the above generally goes for anything bought at retail.
in my town yes. plastic, paper, glass, aluminum, all that shit. just no food. I just get my toys and instructions out and in the recycle bin the rest of it goes.
I recycle nothing. I don't even separate my trash. But sometime I will start this newish thing that suddenly started somewhere in the 90s...
I just assumed there were restrictions on plastic items. Like, they'd only take things like bottles or cups.
if anything you should be able to look up specific regulations on your town/city's website. but yeah, we've never had any issues and we just dump everything in recycling that falls under paper, plastic, glass, or aluminum. easy peasy.
I keep my instruction sheets in a shoebox under my bed. Packaging goes right in the recycling bin unless it's really cool (like Takara's old bookstyle boxes or the retro G2 Bruticus box).
The bins at my complex are all for plastic, paper, and aluminum. You don't even need to sort them out into separate bins. You can basically throw all recyclable items into the same bin.
I'll have to see one and look, but I'm pretty sure the bubbles are marked Recyclable. I mean, what would be the point of making recyclable twist ties when the bubbles themselves can't even be recycled?
