Shipping businesses want your packaging materials. No really, they do! Every item you give them is one they don't have to buy themselves. Some examples include:

• Cardboard Boxes
• Styrofoam Peanuts (Note that food-contaminated styrofoam is trash)
• Occasionally Styrofoam Framing
• Air Packets (call and check)
• Bubble Wrap

Make sure all materials are clean, free of tape, and suitable for reuse. Loose peanuts should be bagged. When in doubt, call the location ahead of time to confirm whether they'll accept the material.

Your neighbors might want your old packaging material too. Check out www.BoxGiver.com to post old packing material that you no longer need. Folks in your area will be able to see your post and contact you if they are interested.

Styrofoam Recycling Options

If you're not able to reuse or donate your Styrofoam packaging supplies for reuse, check out recycling options on our Polystyrene Recycling page.

How can I reduce packaging waste?

Everything we buy seems to come in a cardboard box filled with styrofoam, dipped in plastic, and wrapped in a bag. Read our Reduce Tips page for helpful hints.

Where to go

• All of Santa Barbara County (2)

  • Craigslist —
  • Junk Recyclers — 6520 Platt Avenue #650

• Santa Barbara Area (9)

  • Explore Ecology, Art From Scrap Reuse Store — 302 E Cota St
  • Mail Box Express — 133 East De La Guerra
  • Montecito Executive Services aka UPS Authorized Shipper — 1482 East Valley Road
  • Santa Barbara Pack and Post — 3463 State Street
  • The Mailbox — 5142 Hollister Avenue
  • The Packaging Store — 4281 State Street, Unit A
  • The United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 1187 Coast Village Road
  • The United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 315 Meigs Road, Suite A
  • The United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 3905 State Street, Suite 7

• Goleta & UCSB Area (3)

  • Copyright Printing — 5710 Hollister Avenue
  • The United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 5662 Calle Real
  • The United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 7127 Hollister Avenue, Suite 25A

• Lompoc Valley & VAFB (2)

  • Box Shop — 740 North "H" Street
  • The United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 1305 North "H" Street, Suite A

• Santa Maria Valley (3)

  • The United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 221 Town Center West
  • United Parcel Service (UPS) Store — 1130 East Clark Avenue
  • VTC Enterprises Thrift Store — 2445 A Street

• Outside Santa Barbara County (3)

  • Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers —
  • Ameri-Pak, Inc., Sealed Air Recycle Center — 477 South Woods Drive
  • TerraCycle — 121 New York Avenue