Plastic Bag & Film Recycling
ReCo Recycles Plastic Bags & Film
Plastic film and plastic bags, often made from types 2 (HDPE) and 4 (LDPE) plastics, are common in our daily lives, wrapping everything from groceries to mail deliveries. Examples include grocery bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, and the air pillows used in shipping packages. These materials pose significant challenges for traditional municipal recycling programs as they can easily contaminate recycling streams, getting tangled in sorting machinery and causing disruptions. It is crucial to recycle film through specialized channels that prevent it from entering landfills and oceans.
Accepted Materials
EVERY MONTH
Clean and dry plastic film of any color. Recycling types 2 (HDPE) and 4 (LDPE) if labeled:
- Grocery bags
- Amazon and other plastic film mailers
- Bubble wrap
- Product and case wrap
- Ziploc and sandwich bags – must be free of food residue
- Air pillows – must be flattened
- Bread bags
- Dry cleaning bags
- Produce bags
- Film should stretch
Materials NOT Accepted
- Mailers with paper outside and bubble wrap inside
- Foil-lined bubble wrap
- Salad bags
- Biodegradable bags
- Tape
- Paper bags
- Foil-lined bags like snacks, candy bars, or granola bars wrappers and bags
- Bread bags not made of type 4 LDPE film or mixed material bags
- Store product bags that don’t stretch
- If the material rips or tears instead of stretches
Important Tip! If the film or bag does not stretch, it cannot be recycled through our process. Please do not include such items in your Plastic Film Bag!
FACT: Less than 1% of the approximately 4.8 million tons of plastic film produced each year is recycled.
How does ReCo recycle plastic bags & film?
The ReCollective partners with Orange Recycling Services to responsibly recycle plastic film. Clean and dry plastic film is compressed into densified bales. These bales are then transported to The TREX Company, where they are transformed into composite deck boards or sent to other manufacturers. By recycling plastic film, ReCollective members can turn everyday waste into valuable resources.
F.A.Q.s
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How should I prepare plastic film for recycling?
Plastic film should be clean and dry. Do not include items like mailers with paper outside and bubble wrap inside, foil-lined bubble wrap, salad bags, biodegradable bags, or any plastic film that does not stretch
Can I include plastic film with food residue?
No, any plastic film with food residue is not accepted. Items like Ziploc and sandwich bags must be completely free of food residue to be eligible for recycling.
Can I recycle plastic film on my own?
Yes, many grocery stores have drop-off bins.
Our Partners Who Make this Possible
