Tips on Recycling Plastic Bags
Though you may feel a little embarrassed about that hoard of plastic bags you may have tucked away, one way to downsize the collection is to recycle and reuse. Let’s start with the mountain of plastic bags you’ve already accumulated. While many curbside recycling programs do not accept plastic bags because of their light weight, many grocery stores now collect plastic bags for recycling. So, next time add “recycling plastic bags” to your grocery list.
Don’t forget these other plastic items:
- Grocery bags
- Retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed)
- Paper towel and toilet paper plastic wrap
- Newspaper bags
- Dry‐cleaning bags
- Bread bags
- Produce bags
- Furniture, electronic wrap
- Zip lock bags (with the zipper removed)
- Diaper wrap
- Cereal box liners
- Plastic shipping envelopes (remove labels)
- Case wrap
These items CANNOT be recycled:
- Used food or cling wrap
- Prepackaged food bags, including frozen wrappers
- Bio‐based or compostable bags
- No film that has been painted or has excessive glue
When you recycle plastic bags, make sure you are recycling appropriate plastics, to ensure you are not introducing contaminants to the recycling stream. Typically, plastic bags will be made of either #2 plastic or #4 plastic. When you’re ready to recycle, check the number on the bottom of the bag and use Earth911’s recycling locator to find out where you can recycle your bags.
Still not enough? Learn how to set up your own recycling program at Plasticbagrecycling.org. Also, keep in mind ways to help out through reuse and reduce.
Helpful tips for reusing your old plastic bags:
- Use plastic bags instead of expensive filler when packing.
- Use bags as trash can liners.
- Use them to pick up animal waste.
- Create art—plastic bag crochet patterns are available online.
- Cut the bags to make bibs or aprons.
Reduce your usage:
- Only take a bag when you really need it.
- Utilize reusable bags when shopping.
- Pack the bags as full as possible! Keep in mind that a plastic bag can hold up to 17 pounds of product – nearly 2,000 times its own weight.
