This blog is part of our ‘Boost your Recycling Knowledge‘ series.
Plastic bags are the bane of existence for recycling facilities and SHOULD NOT go in your curbside bin. Why? Because the Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are not equipped to sort them because they get tangled in the complex machinery.
Bread bags, bubble wrap, shipping envelopes, ziploc bags, dry cleaning bags, etc. are all accepted at most supermarkets.
The good news is that all stretchy plastic (aka plastic film) IS recyclable and turned into composite planks, plastic bags and more. Simply collect your plastic film and recycle it at your local grocery store.
Is all plastic film recyclable?
Please recycle all of the following types of film.
- Retail, carryout, produce, newspaper, bread, and dry cleaning bags (clean, dry and free of receipts)
- Zip-top food storage bags (clean and dry)
- Plastic shipping envelopes (remove labels), bubble wrap and air pillows (deflate)
- Product wrap on cases of water/soda bottles, paper towels, napkins, disposable cups, bathroom tissue, diapers, and female sanitary products
These types of film are NOT recyclable and should be placed in the trash.
- Frozen food bags (they have an extra layer for food protection)
- ‘Crinkly’ plastic - pre-packaged produce bags (for grapes or peppers), cookie liners
- Cereal interior bags
- Chip and snack bags
- Candy wrappers
- Degradable/compostable bags or packaging
- Six-pack rings
What exactly is plastic film?
Plastic film, as it’s generically known, also known as LDPE (low-density polyethylene) is highly recyclable. Processors want this material (uncontaminated, i.e. without labels) and they use it as a feedstock to create more LDPE with post-consumer content, which is what state regulations are encouraging.
Supermarkets send volumes of this plastic film, including lots of plastic shrink-wrap that they receive, back to their warehouses, where the film is aggregated and then shipped through the supply chain (they do the same thing with wood pallets and other by-products of the supply chain).
The sticking point with recycling any material is contamination. For any plastic film you bring to a supermarket collection bin, remove any paper labels, adhesive strips, and anything else that’s not just the plastic film.
Where to recycle your plastic film
Nearly every grocery store has a collection bin, such as:
- Stop and Shop (inside automictic entry doors)
- Whole Foods (across from the customer service desk)
- Market Basket (Burlington – inside store by can redemption)
