Make less waste, reuse and recycle plastic bags

Plastic film, which includes many types of bags and wrap, is everywhere in daily lives. In part, because of their convenience and abundance, plastic bags and wrap are often used in excess, wasted, buried in landfills or littered in streets, natural areas and surface waters.

There are easy and cost-effective ways to reduce waste, and recapture the benefits of plastic bags and wrap after their initial use. Individuals and businesses, can reduce excessive use of bags and wrap, reuse them or recycle them.

Industrial shrink wrap used in the packaging can be recycled and is in high demand by manufacturers as a raw material. Individuals, schools, non-profits, workplaces and communities, can collect plastic bags and wrap for recycling, or promote local recycling programs.

The first and best option for reducing plastic waste is to minimize single-use plastics in daily life. Actions to take include reducing the use of disposable shopping bags, by using a reusable bag or container when shopping; reusing old plastic bags for multiple shopping trips; re-purpose plastic bags as trash liners or pet waste bags; refuse a bag for easyto- carry purchases; and buying products in bulk.

Many grocery stores offer durable, washable bags to customers, at an affordable price. Using these bags on a regular basis can create less waste than paper or plastic, and washing them regularly removes dirt and germs.

If there are plastic bags that can’t be reused, people can often recycle them at stores or other drop-off sites, if they are clean and dry. Many people know shopping bags can be recycled – but other household plastic wrap can, too.

This includes, plastic newspaper bags; produce bags; stretch film around furniture or electronics; plastic packaging on paper products; and dry cleaning bags. Non-recyclable plastic wraps include a wrap or bag that contained frozen food, pre-washed salad mix bags and bags labeled as degradable. Any plastic wrap, bag or film, that is dirty or wet, should also not be recycled.

When in doubt, don’t recycle items you are unsure about. Bags and wraps with food particles, or excess moisture – or that are labeled compostable or biodegradable – can disrupt the recycling process, and prevent the reuse of entire loads of recovered bags and wrap.

Although some community recycling programs accept plastic bags and wrap in the curbside collection, the industry strongly encourages consumers to use drop-off locations instead. Plastic wrap, bags and film clog curbside recycling machinery and are difficult to separate from other materials.

For now, the best option is to take clean, empty bags and wrap to a retailer, or other drop-off site that offers a plastic film recycling bin.