Here's What to Do With Your Old Ones Rubber bands are used to wrap everything from stacks of mail to $100 bills. They can be whipped at classmates across the room, or used as a hair accessory.
Synthetic rubber is usually made with ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), which is added to make the bands more durable and resistant to UV and oxidation. Unfortunately, though, making stronger rubber bands does not make them any more eco-friendly. Are rubber bands recyclable? Are they compostable?
According to Public Lab, rubber bands actually aren't composed of 100 percent natural rubber — they're generally made from a mix of natural and synthetic materials. Synthetic rubber is usually made with ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), which is added to make the bands more durable and resistant to UV and oxidation.
Synthetic rubber is usually made with ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), which is added to make the bands more durable ...
As many rubber bands aren't made of natural rubber, some could sit in your compost bin for decades before breaking down.
As previously mentioned, though, most rubber bands aren't actually made of rubber, and therefore, most of them aren' t recyclable.
Unfortunately, though, making stronger rubber bands does not make them any more eco-friendly. Are rubber bands recyclable?