Recycle Packing Peanuts Craft

This packing peanuts craft is a great way to recycle packing peanuts! Every once in a while we still receive a package full to the brim of packing peanuts. At first the kids treat it like a ball pit, and then we wonder what to do with them after that novelty has worn off! Instead of tossing packing peanuts in the trash, try this STEAM project!

After the project is finished, dispose of packing peanuts as you see fit. Are packing peanuts recyclable? Interesting question…

These awesome and fun packing peanuts craft creations are recycling! This simple activity checks a lot of boxes: science (dipping in water dissolves the peanut), engineering (how sturdy can your child make their sculpture?), and art (what will your child create with this new medium?)!

And just a heads up because I found this semi interesting.. packing peanuts are NOT recyclable at the curb. That said your local Kinkos, UPS Store, etc may have a recycling program so be sure to call if you have a lot of packing peanuts to get rid of!

Biodegradable packing peanuts (they are typically colored green, how clever) can be composted, so that’s fun!

Another way to recycle something is to reuse it — we definitely like to do that around here:

Hovercraft Recycling Project for Kids

Packing Peanut Fun Science

Fall Wind Sock Craft

A STEM Project To Recycle Packing Peanuts

Get ready for simple, friends. All you need for this fabulous STEM packing peanut recycling craft is.. drumroll, please…….

packing peanuts
water

So basically what I’m saying is if you currently have packing peanuts, go meet your kid at the table of your choice right now and do this project!

This is one of those projects where the less instructions, the more creativity flows! So this is what I’ll offer:

Dip the end of a packing peanut VERY briefly in water, press to a non-wet packing peanut, and boom they’re stuck!

Ready, set, go build all kinds of structures! Here’s a glimpse into some of the creations James built:

The possibilities here are endless.. your child can built random structures or a model of your house. Let them build cars, blobs, structures with no name, monsters, storybook characters, ANYTHING!

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Recycle Packing Peanuts Craft