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Plastic bags and wraps are unavoidable. No matter how diligently you stick to paper bags, canvas shopping totes, and other eco-friendly alternatives, plastic bags somehow find their way into your hands and homes. But do not worry; you can still take the sustainable route by recycling them, and if you come across plastic bags like the simplehuman bags, you’re in luck; they last longer and are way easier to recycle.
For a little context, when we say recycle, we don’t mean dumping them in your curbside recycling bins. Doing this makes it difficult for recyclers to sort out recyclables and could sometimes damage the equipment they use – this, in turn, slows down the process and increases the cost of recycling.
So, in this article, we’ll be showing you how you can recycle plastic bags and wraps without compromising your eco-friendly lifestyle.
How to Recycle Plastic Bags and Wraps (Plastic Film Packaging)
There are a few ways that you can recycle your plastic bags and wraps if they ever get into your possession. Let’s discuss.
1. Reuse Them
Yes, we know that it sounds like a pretty obvious answer. But you’re doing the environment a favor every time you collect one of these bags and reuse them.
To do this the right way, collect all the plastic bags you can find around you and store them in a suitable location. You can either store them in your closet, under your kitchen sink or stash all of them in one big plastic bag. Wherever you decide, ensure that it is easy to access so you can reach for one as soon as you need it.
You can reuse ziploc bags, produce bags, and shopping bags. They can be washed and air-dried, so you can use them for as long as they last. Once they can no longer be used, then you can have them recycled. Only consider recycling them when they have been punctured, or you can’t seem to find any use for them anymore.
2. Let Plastic Bag Collectors Handle It
Regardless of your location, there should be at least one plastic bag collector around you. These collectors specialize in plastic bag recycling. So when you have enough plastic bags to recycle, you can store them in one big plastic bag and take them to one of these collectors.
To make things easier for recyclers, some grocery stores have a collection spot. You could always drop them off when next you go out to shop for groceries.
What Kind of Plastic Bags and Wraps Can Be Recycled?
Before you drop off plastic bags and film packaging for recycling, you need to know which ones can be recycled. Yes, the plastic bags we get from grocery stores are one of the most common recyclable bags, but there are so many other kinds.
Usually, companies that specialize in recycling plastic bags and wraps accept bags that are made of polyethylene. They could either be low-density polyethylene labeled as #4 (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene labeled as #2 (HDPE). Most plastic packaging is made out of either one of these two flexible plastics. Not all plastic packaging is labeled LDPE or HDPE, so you can confirm that they’re recyclable when they have the #2 or #4 labels on them.
Some plastic packaging is also made out of medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE). These are two other labels you should look out for before dropping your plastic packaging at a collector’s.
Just in case the plastic bags and films are not labeled, here’s a list of the plastic films, bags, and wraps you can recycle:
- Produce bags
- Shopping bags
- Plastic wrap
- Carryout bags
- Ice bags
- Dry cleaning plastic
- Bread bags
- Deflated shipping pillows
- Diaper wrap
- Stretchy six-pack rings
- Bathroom tissue wrap
- Paper towel wrap
- Beverage case wrap
- Deflated bubble wraps
- Plastic cereal box liners (only the stretchy ones)
- Plastic shipping envelopes (without the label)
- Ziplock bags
- Newspaper bags
Yes! This is pretty much all the plastic packaging that can be recycled. But before you drop them off, you need to make sure that they are clean and dry. Dirty plastic bags and wraps may contain food residue, and other non-plastic items can contaminate the plastic and make it difficult to recycle.
Plastic Bags and Wraps You Shouldn’t Drop Off at the Collection Center
Now that you know what plastic packaging you can recycle, let’s walk you through the ones that can’t be recycled.
Non-recyclable plastic packaging is usually made out of Polypropylene. This material has a high tensile strength and a clear appearance. Unlike HDPE and LDPE, they are not stretchy, and they can be quite noisy and stiff. Here is a list of non-recyclable plastic bags and wraps:
- Hard six-pack rings
- Degradable bags
- Metalized chip bags
- Cling wrap
- Frozen food bags
- Prewashed salad mix bags
- Paper-lined bags
- Candy and snack wrappers
- Compostable and biodegradable plastic bags
Conclusion
That’s about it. You now know what plastic packaging is recyclable and what is not. However, if you ever get confused, it is best to leave it out of the recycling bin. If it eventually turns out to be non-recyclable, you’ll be doing more damage than good, as it could contaminate the other recyclable packaging during the recycling process.
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