I've often asked that question and can get little feedback in terms of a definitive answer.
The question I can answer is based upon the link below, issued by the US Postal Service, which confirms that they use recycled materials in the production of postal cards, stamped envelopes, Priority Mail and Express Mail packaging, and even in the adhesive used on self-stick stamps.
As has been mentioned on this Forum in the past, the jury is still out as to the long term effects this will have on collecting this material that may be passed down to the next generation. The adhesive on self-stick stamps, in particular, may disintegrate after a given period of time, so all of the mint self-stick stamps we buy today may not be self stick 50 years or more into the future ... even if they are "Forever" stamps (assuming, of course, the US Postal Service is still around then.)
http://about.usps.com/what-we-are-d.../recycle.htm
Posted 04/26/2012 2:05 pm
