Recycling tape runners?

[kermit919]

I've made so many cards over my holiday break I started to realize how quickly I go through tape runners. I tend to use the duck easy stick runners- but I hate that I can empty it in about an hour, then it sits in a landfill for the next 10,000 years. Does anyone know about the recycle-ability of tape runner cartridges?

[deborahmegan]

Duck is my favorite, too!! Do you think we could picket their manufacturing site to create a refillable option?!?!

[1chrystal]

The Scotch ATG is refillable, and cheaper. The size is a little surprising, but it works like a dream. I can do over 80 cards with multiple layers and very generous amounts of adhesive with a single roll.

[jackie1]

I agree with using the ATG, the only thing that goes to the landfill that dosn't break down is a small plastic circle that holds the tape. I was using the tape runners and going through alot. My DH figured out the cost of what I was spending on the tape runners and the cost of the ATG and tape and he told me to get the ATG it was less expensive in the long run and I wasn't sending alot of plastic to the landfill. If you decide to go with the ATG The Tape Depot has really great prices on there tape and they also sell the ATG. HTH.

[jutta]

Remember that when you are going to put a new reel of adhesive in your ATG, you can toss the rolled up paper in the paper recycing and the only thing that gets thrown in the trash is the small plastic center. Some people don't realize that trash that is put in the landfill NEVER degrades, as it is smooshed together and compacted to exclude air. I read an article about this and it said that after five YEARS, carrots and newspaper had not rotted and "gone away". I think about that every timne I toss a piece of plastic that I can't recycle......

Jutta

[diane617]

another vote for the ATG. It may seem like a big expense to begin with, but it has more than paid for itself in a year AND reduced my waste. Some of the other so-called refillables still had a lot that went into the wastestream.

[Deb Za]

I like the Duck brand little ones for tiny little things I'm putting on my cards--but it's ATG all the way for the rest! I've been saving money on adhesive ever since I finished the 5th roll of tape--and that included the cost of the ATG in the first place. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!

[kermit919]

I get that the ATG is great- but the question was, do you know how to recycle the other kinds?

[jutta]

You might try contacting the company and asking. I doubt that the plastic is marked with the "chasing arrows" with the number in the middle, so that's what I would do. If it's not recyclable, you could urge them to look into the viability of using a recyclable case for the adhesive. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Jutta

[peebsmama]

I also use the Duck brand. And I hate that they don't come with refills. Other brands that have the similar small size that I have tried that do have refills have inferior adhesive. I am really not interested in an ATG. Way to big for me. So, I will stick with Duck. I think about it this way... I recycle everything I possibly can, I buy recycled products whenever possible, I use cloth grocery bags, I drive a very fuel efficient vehicle, I shut off lights when I leave a room, I have flourescent bulbs in all my lamps... well, you get the idea. I figure that I am not contributing a very big carbon foot print compared to a lot of folks. So if I throw out a couple of adhesive containers a month, I'm still way ahead on all the other conservation sides. But if Duck made a refillable version, you bet I would buy it.

[stampylisa]

We have a huge lidded can provided for recycling, so if it's made of plastic, I chuck it in there. the mono refills and the plastic gizmos from my atg gun included....potato chip bags are usually made of a plastic that is a 6, (you can tell since it shrinks when heated, it's like polyshrink)

I talked to a plastic recycler honcho guy once and he told me it's fine-if you don't keep your bin in your house, you don't even need to completely clean out containers and stuff. He said you waste more resources washing the stuff out. Most recycle companies have a better way to figure it all out, so I let them do it....