Tips for Recycling Brown Paper Bags

Here are a few options to consider when recycling your paper bags:

1. Kick them to the curb. It’s likely that brown paper bags can be recycled with other paper in your curbside recycling program. Ask your recycling coordinator if this is the case.
2. Take them back to the store. Some grocery stores have collection bins for brown paper bags.

You can search for both of these brown paper bag recycling options using Earth911. There are also non-recycling options for brown paper bags.

Reduce

1. Bring reusable cloth bags to the grocery store; your local grocer may sell these bags.
2. Ask your checker to fill bags so you’ll use less (just be aware of breakables like eggs).
3. Take lunches in a reusable insulated lunch sack.

Reuse

1. Take brown paper bags from previous shopping trips back to the store with you.
2. Save a paper bag used to pack a lunch for use another day.
3. Crumple them up and use them for packing.
4. Place fruit in a paper bag to ripen.
5. Cut paper bags to use a gift-wrap or to ship items in the mail.