Materials Accepted, Almost Anything Bag
Use this guide to check what can go in your Almost Anything Bag. Please include only the materials listed below and keep the packed bag at 10 pounds or less.
Plastic Film
Plastic film stretches when pulled and includes grocery bags, bread bags, plastic mailers, bubble wrap, and similar flexible film.
Accepted
- Grocery bags
- Amazon and other plastic film mailers
- Bubble wrap
- Product and case wrap
- Ziploc and sandwich bags without food residue
- Flattened air pillows
- Bread bags
- Dry cleaning bags
- Produce bags
- Film labeled #2 HDPE or #4 LDPE
Not accepted
- Paper mailers with bubble wrap inside
- Foil-lined bubble wrap
- Biodegradable bags
- Tape or paper bags
- Mixed-material bread bags
- Product bags that do not stretch
Crinkly Packaging
Crinkly packaging is usually thicker, makes a noticeable sound when handled, and tears instead of stretching.
Accepted
- Chip bags and candy wrappers
- Granola and energy bar wrappers
- Coffee and frozen food bags
- Salad and pasta bags
- Cheese packaging
- Crinkly resealable food bags
- Food and drink pouches
- Woven plastic bags
- Produce netting
- Clean takeout utensils
- Plastic drinking straws
Not accepted
- Items with paper liners
- Items containing cardboard
- Mixed materials other than plastic
- Compostable or biodegradable packaging
- Dirty or wet items
Textiles
Textiles may be in any condition, provided they are dry and free from mold or hazardous contamination.
Accepted
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Towels
- Sheets
- Purses
Not accepted
- Wet textiles
- Hazardous or contaminated materials
- Mildewed or moldy textiles
Styrofoam
Only small pieces of clean, rigid block EPS labeled #6 will fit in the Almost Anything Bag.
Accepted
- Rigid packaging blocks
- Small rigid coolers
- Clean EPS labeled #6
Not accepted
- Takeout containers
- Styrofoam cups
- Egg containers
- Packing peanuts
- Soft or flexible foam
- Packaging labeled #5
Batteries & Bulbs
Mailback bags may include a limited number of standard alkaline batteries and intact LED bulbs only.
Accepted
- Standard AA alkaline batteries
- Standard AAA alkaline batteries
- Maximum of 10 batteries per bag
- Intact LED lightbulbs
Not accepted
- NiCd, NiMH, lithium-ion, or rechargeable batteries
- Button cells or electronics batteries
- Car or lead-acid batteries
- Swollen or bulging batteries
- Broken bulbs
- Incandescent, CFL, or halogen bulbs
Everything Else We Accept
The Almost Anything Bag also accepts the approved ReCo Pick materials below, along with a few mailback-specific materials. Keep scrap metal to no more than 10% of the bag.
- 6-pack can holders
- Art and office supplies
- Books
- Bread tags
- CDs and DVDs
- Clothing buttons
- Clothing hangers
- Electrical cables and cords
- Empty pill bottles
- Eyeglasses
- Jewelry
- Kitchenware
- Lanyards and name tags
- Metal bottle caps
- Mixed mailers
- Produce netting
- Rubber bands
- Scrap metal, up to 10% of the bag
- Seasonal decorations
- Silica packets
- Tote bags
- Toys
- Twist ties
- Unopened hygiene products
- Wrapped takeout utensils
- Wine corks
- #1 plastics
- #5 plastics
Important: Electronic devices are not accepted in mailback bags. Electrical cables and cords are still accepted.
Before you mail it
Pack your bag safely
These limits help keep your shipment safe and compliant.
- Do not include electronic devices. Cables and cords are still accepted.
- Do not include lithium batteries, CFL bulbs, glass bulbs, or anything not specifically listed above.
- Include no more than 10 AA or AAA alkaline batteries.
- Do not include anything sharp.
- Keep the packed bag at 10 pounds or less.
Questions? Email almostanything@therecollective.co.
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