As we head into the new year, we’re excited to offer something many members have asked about for a long time!
Starting January 1, The ReCollective is piloting Crinkly Food Packaging recycling (also known as multilayer plastic).
This includes items like chip bags, granola bar wrappers, coffee bags, frozen food bags, salad bags, and much more! While these materials may look simple, they’re made from several fused layers of different materials. That’s why curbside programs can’t recycle them and why they so often end up in the landfill. Some companies offer expensive mail-in programs that ship materials across the country with limited transparency. We’re stepping in to offer a better alternative.
How the pilot works
During the pilot, members can purchase 4-gallon pink bags for $6 through the Member Dashboard Shop.
- Bags are delivered during your next pickup
- Fill them as needed
- When full, simply put them out with your regular pickup
Participants in the Almost Anything mailback or in-store bag program may also include crinkly food packaging in Almost Anything bags during the pilot.
This is an optional add-on and does not replace any of your core monthly bags or ReCo Picks. As we learn from this pilot and see how often members use it, we may add a dedicated fifth canvas bag in the future for crinkly food packaging.
What’s accepted
This stream is for thicker film packaging that feels crinkly and does not stretch, including:
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All items should be clean, completely dry, and free of metal clips or ties. Stretchy plastic film, such as grocery bags and bread bags, should still go in the plastic film bag.
What happens after pickup
At our warehouse, The ReCollective team sorts and consolidates all crinkly food packaging to remove anything that doesn’t belong. We then compact the material so it can be efficiently shipped to BYFUSION, where it is transformed into durable construction blocks that replace traditional concrete.
Why this pilot costs extra
Crinkly food packaging requires significant additional costs. The $6 bag fee helps cover added operational costs, including collection, sorting, shipping to BYFUSION, and recycling fees paid to BYFUSION.
To learn more, view examples, and read full FAQs, click here:
https://therecollective.co/crinkly-food-packaging/