Recycle Those Packets!
They’re not recyclable curbside, so we make it easy for you to recycle them with us in three easy steps without having to drop anything off at the post office.
STEP ONE: Collect at least 100! Save the Cusa box or reusable gray shipping bag we send your order in and fill it up with the empties.
STEP TWO: Request a prepaid return label from us in the notes section on your next order or by emailing us. We’ll ship you a stick-on label with your order or we can email you a printable label (see FAQs below).
STEP THREE: Seal the box/bag, apply the label and send them off to us!
Notice: Beginning in April 2023 we will only be issuing return labels via email. Due to a change in our operations we will no longer be offering the option to include a label with an order.
For help, email support@cusatea.com. We collect the empty packets by the hundreds of thousands and send them to TerraCycle to be repurposed as decking material and playground equipment.
FAQ and Best Practices
General
Yes, absolutely! If you are local to Boulder, Colorado or the Front Range you may always drop your sticks off at our warehouse. We love meeting our terrific customers!
We're located at 3275 Prairie Avenue, Unit B, Boulder CO and we're here Monday through Friday 7:30 am ish to 4:30 pm ish.
Zip. Zilch. Nada. Our recycling program is 100% free to our customers.
No. When our recycling program first started the customer had to pay the cost of shipping. As a way to "reimburse" our customers for paying shipping we used to offer a discount code. Because we now pay for shipping up front and the program is totally free to our customers, we no longer offer discounts for recycling.
No, you do not! The return labels we issue are ready-to-go and you may simply pop the package in your mailbox or any mail receptacle.
No, but we do ask that you send in at least 100 at a time.
Yes, absolutely! Simply reach out to us at support@cusatea.com to get a return label.
Please note: In order to issue a return label we must have a return address (in this case your address). If we do not have your contact info on file we will ask you for a return address because this is a requirement per USPS in order to issue a shipping label.
No. We only offer prepaid return labels for customers who have a domestic address within the USA. If you live outside of the USA or if you have an overseas military/diplomatic address we are not able to provide you with a prepaid return label. However, customers outside the USA may send us their sticks for recycling at their own expense.
Preparing Your Shipment
We can get you a label in one of two ways!
- We can send a label along with your next order or
- We can email you a printable return label at any time.
Notice: Beginning in April 2023 we will only be issuing return labels via email. Due to a change in our operations we will no longer be offering the option to include a label with an order.
You may include the request for a return label in your order notes or simply reach out to us at support@cusatea.com
No. We issue one label at a time. The reasons for this are that 1) one label may be used to ship any number of sticks and 2) the labels do have an expiration. See below.
The polymailer bags we use to ship your order feature an extra adhesive strip so they can be used twice. If you've recently received an order from us, please reuse the bag from your shipment. Alternatively, you may use any bag you have around the house.
Only if you absolutely must. We prefer bags! Why? Boxes are heavy and generally cost nearly twice to ship as compared to a bag. Because the sticks themselves are so lightweight, bags are best!
The labels we issue are good for a period of 60 days after they are issued. If you've had your lable longer than that please reach out to us for a new one.
Yes, you can! We only get charged for a label in the event that it gets used. If you lost a label, no worries! But we do pay a small charge for each label, so please try not to lose it if you can.
All of them! The labels we use are flexible to the weight of the shipment that you send and for maximum efficiency we ask that you send in all of the sticks you have in as few shipments as possible. Please collect at least 100 sticks (see below).
We ask that you collect at least 100 sticks because shipments with this number of sticks or less generally have the same shipping fee because they weigh nearly the same. When you send in more sticks per shipment this means fewer shipments and fewer resources used to ship waste around. We're all trying to be greener, after all. We have had as many as 500 sticks packed into one 9x11 inch bag and we love that efficiency!
What to Recycle (And What Not to Recycle)
Our recycling program is designed specifically and solely for Cusa sticks because they are a special case which most municipalities do not have the capability to recycle. All other components of our packaging are comercially compostable or recyclable locally, and we ask that you not send anything but the sticks.
No, please only send us your used sticks! All other components of our packaging may be comercially composted or recycled locally. See below.
No, we ask that you only send used Cusa sticks. There are two reasons for this:
1) We know what our sticks are made of and we know how to go about getting them recycled. This is not necessarily true of other packaging and it really bums us out when we have to throw something in the trash because it doesn't meet the requirements for our recycling program.
2) Our recycling program is costly and we are only capable of using our rescources to take care of our waste. We hope that other companies will choose to do the same!
No. Please do not include any staples, paper clips, rubber bands, plastic baggies, tape, etc with your shipment because we have to remove these items before the sticks can be recycled. Simply place the loose sticks in a mailer bag and you're all set!
Yes, a little powder residue is OK and will not negatively impact the recycling process in any way. Please do not rinse your sticks or send us wet sticks. Ick!
How to Recycle Everything Else
