Envelopes Recycle Curbside Stamps, mailing labels and plastic windows are okay, no need to remove them. Padded Envelopes Go in the Garbage Recycling plants don’t accept padded envelopes because they can’t separate the mixed materials. If your padded envelope is plastic-only, recycle it with plastic bags. Lunar New Year Envelopes Red envelopes for the Lunar New Year made of plain paper can be placed in the recycling container. However, glossy envelopes with foil must go in the garbage. Ways to Reduce Reduce Junk Mail Junk mail generates a lot of waste on a weekly basis. Learn how to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. Ways to Reuse Use Envelopes More Than Once As much as possible, try to use envelopes more than once before disposing of them. You can cover old addresses with labels or cross them out.