Chloe Zhang
Plastic bags and candy wrappers are a major source of plastic pollution. While some plastic bags can be recycled, candy wrappers are generally too small and made from different materials, making them difficult to recycle. Candy wrappers often end up as contaminants in paper recycling efforts or are burned for industrial energy production. Improper disposal of plastic bags can also cause environmental harm and interrupt community recycling processes. To address this issue, some states have implemented laws mandating the availability of film plastic collection bins at retail and grocery stores for consumers to recycle their plastic bags. Additionally, companies like TerraCycle offer programs to recycle candy and snack wrappers, ensuring that even these challenging materials can be given new life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Candy wrappers are generally not recyclable |
| Reasons | They are too small and thin to be sorted, and get stuck to other recyclables, contaminating them. They are also made from multiple materials, which recycling plants cannot separate. |
| Exceptions | Candy wrappers that are 100% aluminum foil can be recycled. Some companies, like TerraCycle, offer recycling programs for candy wrappers. |
| Alternatives | Consumers can reduce waste by buying candy in bulk and using their own reusable bags. |
| Other plastic bags | Plastic bags can be recycled at some retail and grocery stores, but they must be clean and dry. |
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What You'll Learn
Candy wrappers are not recyclable
However, if a wrapper is made of 100% aluminium foil, it can be recycled. Both the inside and outside will have a metallic appearance and feel like metal foil rather than plastic or paper. To reduce the environmental impact of candy wrapper waste, consumers can opt for candy with recyclable packaging, such as wrappers made from 100% paper or aluminium foil.
Candy wrappers are not the only plastic items that cannot be recycled. Plastic bags, for example, cannot be recycled curbside as they can get tangled up in recycling machinery, endangering workers and disrupting the recycling process. Plastic bags should be recycled through store drop-off locations instead. However, it is important to ensure that all items for recycling are clean and dry, as dirty or wet bags can contaminate the entire bin and prevent its contents from being recycled.
While candy wrappers cannot be recycled through traditional methods, there are alternative options available. For example, TerraCycle offers a Zero Waste Box™ that accepts any brand and size of flexible plastic-based candy and snack packaging and wrappers for recycling. Consumers can fill the box with their waste and ship it back to TerraCycle using a prepaid shipping label. The materials are then sorted, cleaned, and sent to third-party partners to be processed into usable forms, completing the recycling journey.
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Candy wrappers are too small to be recycled
Plastic candy bags or candy wrappers are not recyclable. They are considered contaminants because they are too small and thin to be sorted. They get stuck to other recyclables, confusing the sorting equipment and contaminating paper recycling efforts. Candy wrappers are made from a mix of materials, which makes it hard and expensive for facilities to turn them into useful materials. The wrappers are also usually contaminated with food residue, making them unfit for recycling.
While some sources suggest burning the plastic for industrial energy production, this practice is controversial as it releases captive carbon. Additionally, candy wrappers are not the correct type of plastic for plastic film recycling (store drop-offs). However, there are some specialised plastic recycling processes that can handle these wrappers, but such hard-to-recycle plastic collection programs are rare.
To address the issue of non-recyclable candy wrappers, consumers can make conscious choices. One option is to switch to buying candy in recyclable materials like 100% paper or aluminium foil. Another option is to opt for bulk shopping for snacks and using refillable containers or reusable bags. This reduces the overall waste generated from candy packaging.
Some companies, like TerraCycle, offer zero-waste solutions for candy wrappers. They accept empty candy wrappers of any brand and size, clean and process the materials, and then sell the recycled raw material to manufacturing companies. Such initiatives provide an alternative to simply discarding candy wrappers, helping to reduce waste and promote recycling.
It is important to note that plastic bags themselves are also not recyclable in household bins or trash. They should be disposed of properly to prevent environmental harm and interruptions to a community's recycling process. Some retail and grocery stores provide film plastic collection bins for consumers to recycle their plastic bags and other acceptable plastics. However, it is crucial to ensure that these plastics are clean and dry before placing them in the collection bins.
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Candy wrappers are made from multiple materials
Candy wrappers are not recyclable. This is due to several reasons, one being their size. The thin plastic pieces are almost impossible to sort, so they stick to other recyclables and contaminate them. If a wrapper feels like plastic or is shiny inside, it belongs in the garbage. Candy wrappers are often made from multiple materials, such as a mix of plastic and aluminium or paper and aluminium. This makes it difficult and costly for recycling plants to separate the materials and recycle them.
Candy wrappers made from 100% aluminium foil can be recycled. Both the inside and outside will have a metallic appearance and feel like metal foil rather than plastic or paper. To reduce the environmental impact of candy wrapper waste, consumers can choose candy with recyclable packaging, such as wrappers made from 100% paper or aluminium foil.
Some companies, like TerraCycle, offer programs to recycle candy wrappers. Their Zero Waste Box program accepts candy wrappers for recycling, which are then sorted, cleaned, and processed into usable forms. However, such initiatives are rare.
To reduce waste, consumers can opt for bulk shopping for snacks and bring their own reusable bags. This simple switch can significantly reduce the amount of waste generated from candy wrappers.
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Candy wrappers contaminate other recyclables
Plastic candy bags are not recyclable. They are considered contaminants and cannot be placed in store drop-off bins or recycling bins. Candy wrappers are made from a mix of materials, which makes it challenging and costly for facilities to process them into useful materials. The thin plastic pieces are nearly impossible to sort, so they stick to other recyclables and contaminate them.
Candy wrappers often consist of a blend of plastic and aluminium or paper and aluminium. Recycling plants cannot separate these mixed materials for reuse, leading to their classification as garbage. The small size of candy wrappers further complicates the recycling process, as they can get stuck to other recyclables and disrupt the machinery.
To address the environmental impact of candy wrapper waste, consumers are encouraged to choose candies wrapped in recyclable materials, such as 100% paper or aluminium foil. Aluminium foil wrappers, with both the inside and outside resembling and feeling like metal foil, can be recycled. However, if any part of the wrapper appears or feels like paper or plastic, it belongs in the garbage.
Additionally, some companies, such as TerraCycle, offer specialised recycling programs for candy wrappers. They accept flexible plastic-based candy wrappers and sort the materials using advanced technologies. The cleaned materials are then processed into usable forms and sold to manufacturing companies, completing the recycling journey.
It is important to note that plastic bags should not be placed in household recycling or trash bins. Instead, they can be recycled through store drop-off locations or film plastic collection bins available at some retail and grocery stores. These bins are meant for specific types of plastic bags and films, and contaminated or wet bags can render an entire bin non-recyclable.
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Candy wrappers can be recycled through specialist companies
Candy wrappers are generally considered hard to recycle due to their small size and the fact that they are made from a mix of materials, including plastic, paper, and aluminum. These materials cannot be easily separated, making it difficult and expensive for recycling facilities to process them into new products.
However, some specialist companies have emerged to address this issue and offer candy wrapper recycling services. For example, TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box program accepts candy and snack wrappers of any brand and size, made from flexible plastic-based materials. Consumers can purchase these boxes, fill them with their candy wrapper waste, and then send them back to TerraCycle for recycling. The collected materials are sorted, cleaned, and processed into usable forms before being sold to manufacturing companies, thus completing the recycling journey.
Blockbins.com is another company working on creating hard-to-recycle plastic collection programs, which could potentially include candy wrappers. These specialist companies provide an alternative to traditional recycling methods, which often cannot accommodate the unique challenges posed by candy wrappers.
It is important to note that candy wrappers should not be placed in regular recycling bins or curbside recycling pickup. This is because they can contaminate other recyclables, such as paper, and they are not the correct type of plastic for plastic film recycling. Additionally, they may get tangled in recycling machinery, causing interruptions to the recycling process.
To reduce the environmental impact of candy wrapper waste, consumers can also make conscious choices when purchasing candy. Opting for candy wrapped in recyclable materials, such as 100% paper or aluminum foil, can help minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or incineration facilities.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic candy bags are not recyclable. They are too small, and the thin plastic pieces are nearly impossible to sort, so they get stuck to other recyclables and become contaminants.
Candy wrappers are made from a mix of materials, which makes it hard and expensive for facilities to turn them into useful materials. They are also usually contaminated with food residue.
Plastic candy bags should be put in the garbage. You could also look into TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box, which accepts candy wrappers for recycling.
Consider buying candy in bulk and bringing your own reusable bag. You can also choose candy that’s wrapped in recyclable materials like 100% paper or aluminum foil.
