> I think they should close the loop on those and take them back. Just say, throw the gel-packs in the box with all the plastic containers, slap this label on the outside, and UPS will take the box away when they drop off next week's food.

They do: http://origin-blog.blueapron.com/recycling-faq/

You collect a couple of shipments worth of packaging, stuff it in a box, and print out a label for it from your account.