Plastic grocery bags, often called T-shirt bags, are made from flexible plastic film, typically high-density polyethylene (HDPE #2) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE #4). Although this material is technically made from recyclable plastic resins, its physical form presents a unique challenge to standard municipal sorting systems. The confusion over disposal stems from the fact that while the material itself has value, the traditional method of collection is incompatible with its properties. For these bags to be successfully recycled, they require a specific collection and handling process separate from the home recycling bin.
Why Curbside Programs Reject Plastic Bags
Standard single-stream curbside recycling programs use high-speed mechanical equipment to sort materials by shape, size, and density. When lightweight, flexible plastic film enters a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), it disrupts this system of screens and optical sorters. The primary issue is entanglement, where the thin plastic wraps around the rotating shafts and discs of the sorting screens. This tangling forces the facility to halt operations multiple times daily for manual removal, causing costly downtime, equipment damage, and serious safety risks for workers who must physically climb into the machinery to cut the jammed plastic free. Furthermore, lightweight bags often fly over the sorting equipment, contaminating other material streams such as bales of paper or cardboard. Contamination significantly decreases the value and quality of the entire batch of otherwise recyclable material, sometimes rendering the whole load unusable and destined for a landfill.
Designated Retail Drop-Off Locations
The practical solution for recycling plastic bags and film involves a separate collection system that bypasses the mechanical issues of the MRF. These materials are collected through dedicated drop-off programs, most commonly found at major grocery stores, large retail chains, and local pharmacies. The collection bins are usually placed in a visible, easily accessible location, often near the store’s entrance or exit. These retail programs consolidate the plastic film separately from other recyclables, ensuring the material remains clean and dry. The material is then sent to specialized processors equipped to handle the unique properties of polyethylene film. These facilities transform the film into new products, such as composite lumber used for decking, fencing, and park benches, or into pellets for manufacturing new bags and containers. This system works because the material is source-separated, meaning the entanglement issue is eliminated before the material reaches the processor.
Preparing Plastic Film for Recycling
For the specialized recycling process to be successful, the plastic film must meet strict standards for cleanliness and condition. All film must be clean and completely dry, as any moisture or food residue will contaminate the entire collection batch. Consumers must remove any paper receipts or stickers, as these items are not plastic and cannot be processed with the film.
These collection bins accept polyethylene film that stretches easily when pulled.
Accepted Items
- Bread bags
- Dry cleaning bags
- Newspaper sleeves
- Plastic wrap from cases of water bottles
- Bubble wrap with all labels removed
Items that are not accepted include crinkly, multi-layer plastics like chip bags, pre-washed salad bags, frozen food bags, or any plastic labeled as compostable or biodegradable. Once the film is prepared, it is best practice to gather the bags into one plastic bag and tie it shut before dropping it into the collection bin.