See the list below for the types of plastic bags / wraps that can be dropped off at big box retail stores, supermarkets and chain pharmacies – providing they are CLEAN and do not contain any food residue or labels.
Acceptable to Recycle
- Shopping Bags
- Retail bags (with draw strings removed, if applicable)
- Dry cleaning bags
- Produce bags (labels MUST be removed)
- Bread bags
- Cereal box liners (as long as they don’t tear like paper)
- Overwrap (i.e., found around paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, etc.)
- Case wrap (i.e., found around cases of water)
- Newspaper bags
- Zip top bags (i.e., Ziploc bags)
- Air pillows from shipping packages (air removed)
- Bubblewrap from shipping packages
Unacceptable to Recycle
- Plastic bags with food residue or labels
- Plastic bags with strings
- Plastic soil or mulch bags
- Degradable/compostable bags or film packaging, (e.g., PLA plastics)
- Pre-washed salad mix bags
- Frozen food bags
- Candy bar wrappers
- Chip bags
- Six-pack rings
#1 - Recycle
Plastic bags and film plastics CANNOT be recycled in the blue bin. Never put them in the blue bin, either loose or containing recyclables, as they slow down the recycling process and end up as trash (along with anything inside them).
Clean plastic bags can be recycled at most big box stores, supermarkets and chain pharmacies. Ask about their recycling collection bins.
#2 - Reduce
Bring reusable bags to the grocery store and beyond to cut down on the amount of plastic bags in circulation. Use reusable containers to pack lunch or store leftovers.
#3 - Dispose
If your plastic bags are dirty, they must go in the trash.
