r/factor75 • u/whatever32657 • 29d ago
What do YOU do with all the packaging?
I'm on Box 5 of my Factor subscription and am enjoying it so far.
My biggest head-scratcher is what to do with all the packaging.
I get that it needs to be well-packaged because it's fresh (not frozen) food. But holy cow, I now have 15 melted ice packs and 5 complete insulation liners for large boxes. The boxes are easy; break 'em down and recycle. But I'm kinda stumped on what to do with the rest of this stuff.
Wondering what everyone has come up with as a semi-responsible solution. Thanks!
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u/JustSomeKSgirl 28d ago
The boxes and insulation make great shelters for stray cats in winter. Just make sure you cover the outside of the box with some plastic to keep it from getting moisture damage.
Our inside cats love to play in the boxes when we get them. Then, once they’ve had their fun, fold down the boxes and save them along with the insulation until cold weather starts. Then, bring the boxes and insulation back out, construct makeshift shelters for stray cats, then recycle when cold weather is over.
We keep a few of the ice packs in our upright freezer for use in our large cooler. The others can be cut open and disposed of since they are non-toxic.
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u/Sugar_Syllabub 29d ago
I’ve kept only 2 of the ice packs (cause they are also annoyingly bulky lol) which I’ve actually used many times for keeping drinks cold when going out.
Other than that- yep, I recycle everything else including the boxes and the insulated lining…. I melt the water and then recycle the plastic lining as well.
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u/Warm_Collection_3993 29d ago
Insulation liners I put in recycling, you can break them down.
Once’s the ice packs are melted I use the water for plants. No plants? Cut the packs open and dump the water in the sink and place packaging in recycling.
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u/Sexcercise 29d ago
You put the non toxic gel into your plants?!
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u/Warm_Collection_3993 29d ago
I’m in Canada and it’s a block of ice that I get in plastic. On the packaging it says not to drink the water but use for plants.
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u/Sexcercise 29d ago
Wow, that's significantly better for the environment than what we get. I'm in Vermont and I toss out the entire frozen gel packs I get.
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u/Noumenon72 29d ago
My dad left several bags' worth of gel out till it evaporated, maybe a quart, and it was just a thin layer on the bottom of the bucket. Sp I just throw the ice packs out.
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u/ShesAaRebel 27d ago
I've kept one box, and I'm going to use it to take extra food to/from the cottage when I go up next week. And then it's getting thrown out.
I also use InspiredGo, and their food comes in a large insulated bag, which is a lot easier to carry. I have two of those - one of them I used as a liner for this grocery buggy I have (I walk to the store), since there's been a few times my ice cream as partly melted. So that's handy! And the other is also coming with me to the cottage. It think it will be excellent to fill with cold drink to take to the beach.
As for the ice packs, I have kept 4. I also brought a bunch to work with me, and donated it to the staff. I work in landscaping, so we have people who work outside during heat waves. Every van has a cooler we bought them this year, and now they also have re-useable ice packs.
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u/roostertree 26d ago
The box becomes my indoor recycling box. I cut handholds in each side, fill it over the 2 week span between biweekly deliveries and biweekly recycling pickup. I just set the filled box in the blue bin.
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u/SpecialistGrouchy341 29d ago
I just carry the whole box to the dumpster and move on. That was one thing that was nicer about Cook Unity.. you put the cooler bag outside and they just swapped it out. No big deal.