The Know-How: Can Plastic Gift Cards Be Recycled?

Gift cards are proving to be a very convenient option to give someone a gift without having to worry about what to get. They save people the hassle of running around from store to store trying to figure out what to gift someone. The receiver of the gift card has the freedom to then choose whatever they want. Seems like a win-win right?

While gift cards may be convenient for their users, they wreak havoc on the environment. Plastic gift cards are often made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When they are thrown away, they never degrade. 

PVC cannot be broken down by recycling programs like paper but instead ends up sitting in landfills for centuries without breaking down at all. Plastic will persist in our environment for years to come. This means that even though we might not see them on a daily basis, there is still a lot of plastic waste out there.

With the increasing amount of plastic waste bulking the environment, it is necessary to take initiatives to reduce plastic pollution. Small things like recycling can go a long way in helping to preserve the environment. The same goes for gift cards. Gift cards can also be recycled, and/or reused.

Recycling plastic gift cards

 
Here are a few ways to recycle gift cards:

1. Getting them refilled

Instead of discarding a gift card after using it, it is better to get them refilled and use them again. This way you are reusing the same card over and over again without issuing new cards for every usage. 

Companies should make it known that they provide refilling services for gift cards so that customers can go for this option instead. 

2. Sending them to recycling centers

Gift cards are made of high-quality PVC which is not very easily recyclable. They are required to be sent to a specialized recycling center where they can be repurposed in different ways.

These recycling centers make use of used gift cards to make new cards like debit cards, credit cards, hotel key cards, etc. This way, the plastic is being reused and not just lying in a dump somewhere emitting harsh chemicals into the environment.

3. Get crafty

When you have a gift card and do not know what to do with it, you can use them to make craft items like guitar picks, decorative items for frames, they can be used in making jewelry, etc. 

Upcycling the cards and making use of them in crafts is a better way of making use of them instead of throwing them away where they will serve no purpose. 

Gift cards are very convenient to use, and help a gift-giver to eliminate the decision fatigue of choosing what to gift to someone. And as we can see above, it is possible to recycle them and make other uses of the gift cards as well. By following these tips, you can responsibly recycle the gift cards and make a conscious contribution towards helping the environment. 

To get your own customized gift cards in full CMYK color and with the highest quality finish, you can contact us at Mixto and we will cater to all your gift card needs.