# Netflix / Redbox / Blockbuster Video Cases \[Plastic recycling\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-redbox-blockbuster-video-cases-plastic-recycling/940568>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 22, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-redbox-blockbuster-video-cases-plastic-recycling/940568 "2021-04-22T21:44:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ishamael69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@ishamael69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ishamael69)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-redbox-blockbuster-video-cases-plastic-recycling/940568/1 "2021-04-22T21:44:24Z")

</div>

So I was reading this thread over in GD: [Why did blockbuster video fail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-blockbuster-video-fail/931051)

For some reason, during the discussion of clamshells, the question popped into my mind: When a company like Blockbuster, Netflix, RedBox or the library buys DVDs, do they come in the bulky plastic boxes that are then just thrown away? Seems like a huge environmental waste.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-redbox-blockbuster-video-cases-plastic-recycling/940568/2 "2021-04-23T16:36:47Z")

</div>

Majority of DVD clamshells have been and are made from polypropylene (PP). PP, which is the #5 on the plastics recycle code, is recyclable. Now whether it is recycled or the majority goes to the landfill is another debate.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-redbox-blockbuster-video-cases-plastic-recycling/940568/3 "2021-04-23T16:43:16Z")

</div>

Of late #5 has very little recycling done. We use to send the plastics for recycling to China but that ended back in 2017.

According to John Oliver, a Greenpeace report and my town { 🙂 } only **PET** (#1) and **HDPE** (#2) are actually being recycled in the US currently.

Additionally even of these plastics less than a third are collected for recycling. So we are doing a terrible job of it all.

We need to step up collecting and recycling and try hard to end the use of the disposable plastics we don’t recycle.