# How Should I Dispose of Freezer Packs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721 "2016-12-27T18:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/1 "2016-12-27T18:49:59Z")
Like most of America, Ms. Cups and I are on the “meals delivered at home” kick. We don’t do it too too often, but when a deal comes up we’re there. An unfortunate side effect of these is we have, like, 1000 of those freezer packs they’re send with. They’re great for picnics and all, but we don’t go on those. They’re also too big to fit in a lunch box. So I want to get rid of them because we have a small-ass freezer, but how do I get rid of them? I can’t imagine the gel material they’re made out of is that particularly healthy, so I don’t wanna just chuck it in the trash. But I honestly have no idea what else to do. Any advice? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/2 "2016-12-27T18:54:34Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Like most of America, Ms. Cups and I are on the “meals delivered at home” kick. We don’t do it too too often, but when a deal comes up we’re there. > > An unfortunate side effect of these is we have, like, 1000 of those freezer packs they’re send with. They’re great for picnics and all, but we don’t go on those. They’re also too big to fit in a lunch box. So I want to get rid of them because we have a small-ass freezer, but how do I get rid of them? I can’t imagine the gel material they’re made out of is that particularly healthy, so I don’t wanna just chuck it in the trash. But I honestly have no idea what else to do. > > Any advice? I have Blue Apron and according to them you’re supposed to empty out the ice pack in the garbage and then recycle the bag. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/3 "2016-12-27T18:55:22Z")
Start a new business? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/4 "2016-12-27T20:28:44Z")
What are they filled with? I got some from Shari’s Berries and it turns out the freezer packs were filled with regular ice. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/5 "2016-12-27T20:32:01Z")
If you got it from Blue Apron, [they’ll take it all back](https://www.blueapron.com/account#recycle). ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/6 "2016-12-27T20:47:22Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I can’t imagine the gel material they’re made out of is that particularly healthy, so I don’t wanna just chuck it in the trash. But I honestly have no idea what else to do. > > Any advice? Why would you assume that? > [@](#): > > Gel packs are often made of non-toxic materials that will remain a slow-flowing gel, and therefore will not spill easily or cause contamination if the container breaks. Gel packs may be made by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose (Cellusize),[1][2] sodium polyacrylate, or vinyl-coated silica gel.[3] Might give you tummy troubles if you ate a bunch, but why does everyone on these forums assume that trash doesn’t go in the trash? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/7 "2016-12-27T20:57:26Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > Why would you assume that? Mostly because it’s a gel that hardens into a colder-than-ice material, then melts into a liquid form again, just to be refrozen into the gel again. That kind of black witch magic triggers my “probably not good to sit in a landfill and biodegrade without causing some kind of mutant rat or fish or something” alarm. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/8 "2016-12-27T21:09:54Z")
Goodwill? ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/9 "2016-12-27T21:15:10Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Mostly because it’s a gel that hardens into a colder-than-ice material, then melts into a liquid form again, just to be refrozen into the gel again. > > That kind of black witch magic triggers my “probably not good to sit in a landfill and biodegrade without causing some kind of mutant rat or fish or something” alarm. To be honest, I’m unclear which part of this seems like black witch magic. It sounds like you’re talking about something with a freezing point lower than water, which is a gel at warmer temperatures. Useful, yes, but hardly astounding. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/10 "2016-12-27T22:45:23Z")
Better to be too careful than not careful enough. Darn good question in the OP, and I’m happy to learn the stuff isn’t dangerously toxic, because…well…I didn’t know either! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/11 "2016-12-27T23:24:35Z")
[Moderating] Moved to GQ from CS. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/12 "2016-12-27T23:35:19Z")
How about a soup kitchen? These places sometimes get refrigerated or frozen food, and these would be great to give out to the clients who may not be able to get home right away or do not have a fridge or freezer but can eat the item when stored this way in a box before it goes bad. I’d recommend calling first, of course. When I worked at the hospital, I saved them for a lady I knew who ran a CSA with her husband. (Community supported agriculture, where people buy a share of a farm) ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/13 "2016-12-27T23:41:19Z")
Look, you’ll be thankful for them the next time you have to bury a body. They keep the smell down in the trunk & help to keep the corpse from shifting on curves. (…just kidding…) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/14 "2016-12-27T23:43:08Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Mostly because it’s a gel that hardens into a colder-than-ice material, then melts into a liquid form again, just to be refrozen into the gel again. > > That kind of black witch magic triggers my “probably not good to sit in a landfill and biodegrade without causing some kind of mutant rat or fish or something” alarm. My understanding is that little if anything biodegrades in a modern landfill. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/15 "2016-12-27T23:51:22Z")
Do you have a fence? Could you chuck that stuff over the fence at night, into your neighbor’s yard? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/16 "2016-12-28T10:58:47Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Do you have a fence? Could you chuck that stuff over the fence at night, into your neighbor’s yard? Or a local quarry? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/17 "2016-12-28T15:03:02Z")
I like the soup kitchen idea a lot. I just may have to look into this… ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/18 "2016-12-28T19:10:47Z")
Let your Golden Retriever chow down on one when no-one’s looking. Be sure to place it on a 100% cashmere blanket beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/19 "2016-12-29T02:29:34Z")
Soup kitchen is a great idea, also food banks. Folks who are living on the edge often don’t have reliable refrigeration. It’s really helpful if they can keep fresh food good in a cooler for a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-dispose-of-freezer-packs/775721/20 "2016-12-29T02:30:41Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Let your Golden Retriever chow down on one when no-one’s looking. Be sure to place it on a 100% cashmere blanket beforehand. You are holding out on us! Story please? LOL!