Musical Cards Contain Mercury
Due to the mercury contained within the musical device, musical greeting cards must be disposed of as hazardous waste if they are kept whole.
Remove the Musical Device
Remove the musical device in order to recycle the card. Recycle the electronic device as e-waste. Recycle the paper portion of the card with your other paper products as long as any other non-paper elements such as glitter and foil have been removed.
Alternative Ways to Recycle
St. Jude’s Recycled Card Program
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children operates a recycling program in which the fronts of greeting cards are used to make new cards. They accept all cards except Hallmark, American Greetings and Disney due to copyright laws. Find out how to participate.
Ways to Reduce
Opt For a Simpler Card
Because of the hazardous materials they contain, musical greeting cards can be harmful to the environment, especially if they’re disposed of improperly. It’s better to opt for a non-musical, more easily recycled greeting card instead.
Switch to E-Cards
Sending your cards electronically is not only more economical and timely, but much more environmentally friendly.
Send Songs Another Way
While musical greeting cards can be fun, consider sending friends and loved ones a more personal song by recording something yourself in a private voice note or social media video. You can also send them a link to a song you think they would appreciate.
Ways to Reuse
Hack a Greeting Card
With just a few simple tools, you can repurpose the sound system inside a musical greeting card into your own recordable communication device. Find out how.
