
WAYS TO TAKE OUT TRASH WITHOUT PLASTIC BAG FREE
Before dropping off your bundle, open the bags to check for lingering paper receipts, shake out crumbs, and cut off paper shipping labels.įor these free recycling programs to remain sustainable, the plastic wrap we contribute needs to be clean. Make sure you're only recycling soft plastics - without any junk inside. SANDWICH BAGS - Plastic zippers bags are okay too.ĭRY CLEANER BAGS - Remove paper, hangers, etc. PLASTIC SHIPPING BAGS - Cut off paper labels. They do n ot accept: stretchy food wrap, frozen food bags, cellophane, or pre-washed salad bags because of incompatible chemical make-ups.Īlso accepted in Plastic Bag Recycling Programs at local stores: Generally, these recycling programs accept all clean bags and wrap made from #2 or #4 plastic film. Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Walgreens, Mariano’s, and Jewel-Osco all participate look for the Plastic Bag Recycling bins located near the front doors. Recycle plastic bags and other soft plastics at local retailersīecause soft plastics are difficult to sort out of the household recycling stream, many local retailers provide access to free, drop-off recycling programs. Some municipalities, including NYC, require recycling to be collected in transparent plastic 'recycling' bags when recycling bins or dumpsters aren't available. Then down at the dumpsters, the bags of recycling are easy to identify from regular trash, and are then tossed into the recycling container. Multi-floor commercial buildings often use blue recycling bags because it can be most efficient to collect trash and recycling bags together in one cart. Why do so-called 'Recycling' plastic bags exist? They cling to other recyclables and wrap around sorting equipment at the recycling facility which is dangerous for workers and costly for the program. Soft plastics aren’t recyclable in from home because they’re difficult to sort out from the other recyclable items, like cardboard, paper, and plastic containers. Soft plastic? Hard no.ĭry cleaner bags, plastic envelopes, and plastic wrap are not accepted either, regardless of what the packaging may state.Ī simple recycling rule to remember: Soft plastic? Hard no. Remember that plastic bags are not allowed in your recycling If you need more space for your recyclables, you may use any type of durable, weather-proof. Most recycling facilities just aren't equipped to sort plastic bags and other soft plastics. Plastic bags of all shapes, sizes and colors are not accepted in Chicago's blue recycling cart.

We get a lot of questions about plastic bags - questions about whether a certain size, shape, or color of plastic bag might be recyclable.
