Omar Khalid
Soft plastics, also known as plastic film, are a major contributor to global pollution, constituting around 18% of landfill waste and an estimated 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. While soft plastics can be recycled, they are often not accepted by standard recycling programs due to their tendency to jam sorting machines. As a result, they are commonly disposed of in landfills, leading to significant environmental concerns. However, there are alternative recycling options available, such as dedicated soft plastic recycling programs and retail store drop-off locations, which aim to reduce soft plastic waste and promote sustainability. This introduction sets the context for exploring the recyclability of soft plastics and highlights the importance of finding solutions to address their environmental impact.
Are soft plastics recyclable?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Soft plastics are technically recyclable |
| Difficulty in recycling | Difficult to recycle in most municipal recycling programs because they jam sorting machines |
| Plastic film packaging | Plastic bags and wraps are not accepted in most curbside recycling bins |
| Retail store recycling | Many retail stores and drop-off centers accept plastic film packaging for recycling |
| Plastic types | Polyethylene plastic, including #2 and #4 |
| Plastic state | Soft plastics must be clean and dry |
| Plastic deformation | Soft plastics must be able to be scrunched into a ball |
| Retailers | Walmart, Target, Wegmans, Tops, and Aldi |
| Location | Availability of recycling options differs by location |
| Plastic waste | Soft plastics constitute around 36% of all plastic waste |
| Plastic pollution | Plastic constitutes around 18% of landfill material and 40% of the world's ocean surfaces |
| Recycling rate | The U.S. recycled only 5% to 6% of its plastic waste in 2021 |
| Third-party recycling services | TerraCycle, WasteNot, and NexTrex |
| Plastic products | Biscuit packets, bread bags, bubble wrap, plastic bags, plastic film wrap, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
- Soft plastics can be recycled at some retail stores
- They can also be recycled by using a Zero Waste Box
- Soft plastics are not accepted by most residential curbside recycling
- They can be recycled into new products, like decking and furniture
- Soft plastics are difficult to recycle in most municipal recycling programs
Soft plastics can be recycled at some retail stores
Major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Wegmans have on-premise recycling bins that accept clean, soft plastics. These stores collect the plastic film for recycling and work with multiple businesses to recycle it into new products. It is important to ensure that any plastic you wish to recycle is clean and dry to be accepted by retailers.
Some grocery stores also accept plastic bags and product wraps for recycling. However, most residential curbside recycling programs do not accept these items as they can clog the recycling machines. Therefore, it is recommended to check with your local grocery stores or big box stores to find out if they accept soft plastics for recycling.
Additionally, there are companies like WasteNot and TerraCycle that offer specific soft plastic recycling programs. WasteNot, in partnership with NexTrex, recycles soft plastics into eco-friendly outdoor products, while TerraCycle provides Zero Waste Boxes for dry soft plastics that can be scrunched into a ball. These boxes can be shipped back to TerraCycle for recycling, with a prepaid return label, ensuring a convenient way to recycle soft plastics.
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They can also be recycled by using a Zero Waste Box
Soft plastics, also known as plastic film, are any plastics that can be stretched or scrunched into a ball in your hand. They are difficult to recycle in most municipal recycling programs because they often jam sorting machines and therefore cannot be placed in a standard recycling bin.
However, they can also be recycled by using a Zero Waste Box. The Zero Waste Box is a system that allows you to recycle any dry soft plastics that can be scrunched into a ball. This includes items such as biscuit packets, bread bags, bubble wrap, cat and dog food pouches, cellophane from flowers, cereal box liners, and chip and cracker packets. It is important to ensure that the plastic is clean, dry, and empty before placing it in the box. The box can be ordered online, filled with the acceptable rubbish, and then sent back to TerraCycle with a prepaid return label. This service is currently only available in Australia.
In addition to the Zero Waste Box, there are other ways to recycle soft plastics. Some retail stores and drop-off centres accept plastic film packaging for recycling. For example, in the Chicago area, WasteNot offers a soft plastic recycling program in partnership with NexTrex, a company that recycles soft plastics to create eco-friendly outdoor products. It is always important to check with your local recycling entity to ensure that you are recycling correctly, as guidelines may vary depending on your location.
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Soft plastics are not accepted by most residential curbside recycling
However, this does not mean that soft plastics cannot be recycled at all. Many grocery stores and major retailers will take your clean, soft plastic for recycling. Examples of soft plastics that can be recycled include bread bags, bubble wrap, cereal box liners, and plastic bags.
There are also other options for recycling soft plastics. For example, WasteNot offers a soft plastic recycling program in partnership with NexTrex, a company that recycles soft plastics to create eco-friendly outdoor products. Additionally, TerraCycle offers a Soft Plastics Waste Zero Waste Box that can be used to recycle any dry soft plastics that can be scrunched into a ball.
It is important to note that the recyclability of soft plastics may vary depending on your location. It is always a good idea to check with your local recycling guidelines to ensure that you are recycling correctly.
Overall, while soft plastics may not be accepted by most residential curbside recycling, there are still several options available for those looking to reduce their plastic waste and help protect the environment.
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They can be recycled into new products, like decking and furniture
Soft plastics, also known as plastic film, are any plastics that can be stretched or scrunched into a ball by hand. They are difficult to recycle in most municipal recycling programs because they often jam sorting machines. However, they can be recycled into new products, such as decking and furniture.
WasteNot, in partnership with NexTrex, offers a soft plastic recycling program in the Chicago area. NexTrex is a company that recycles soft plastics to create eco-friendly outdoor products such as decking and furniture. There are also thousands of retail stores and drop-off centres that accept plastic film packaging for recycling. These retailers collect plastic film packaging from consumers and back-haul it to multiple businesses that recycle it into new products.
Large retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Wegmans have on-premise recycling bins for soft plastics. Most residential curbside recycling programs do not accept soft plastics. However, you can check with your local recycling entity to ensure you are recycling correctly as there may be differences from town to town.
To recycle soft plastics, ensure they are clean, dry, and as empty as possible. Soft plastics that can be recycled include biscuit packets, bread bags, bubble wrap, cat and dog food pouches, cellophane from flowers, cereal box liners, chip and cracker packets, confectionery and snack wrappers, frozen food bags, ice cream wrappers, pasta bags, plastic bags, plastic film wrap, plastic sachets, potting mix and compost bags, rice bags, and snap lock bags.
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Soft plastics are difficult to recycle in most municipal recycling programs
Soft plastics can be recycled, but they are not accepted by most municipal recycling programs. Soft plastics include things like grocery bags, air packs, produce bags, plastic wrap, and plastic film packaging. While these items can be recycled, they are not accepted by most curbside recycling programs because they often jam sorting machines. As a result, soft plastics typically need to be dropped off at specific locations, such as retail stores, that accept them for recycling.
Many large retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Wegmans, have on-site recycling bins for soft plastics. These retailers collect soft plastics from consumers and from their own back-of-store packaging. The plastic film is then backhauled and recycled into new products. However, it's important to note that not all stores have collection containers, and the availability of recycling programs can vary by location.
To properly recycle soft plastics, it is essential to keep them clean and dry. Some programs, such as WasteNot in the Chicago area, accept soft plastics through their recycling program but require that the plastics are free of residue and as dry and empty as possible. Additionally, soft plastics should not be placed in recycling bins in a scrunched or balled-up form, as they may be sorted as contaminants.
Although soft plastics can be recycled, it is still important to reduce their use whenever possible. If alternatives are available, it is better to choose products that do not have plastic wraps or packaging. By reducing our reliance on soft plastics, we can minimize the environmental impact of this hard-to-recycle material.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, soft plastics are recyclable. However, they are difficult to recycle in most municipal recycling programs because they jam sorting machines.
Soft plastics can be recycled at participating retail stores. Retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Wegmans have on-premise recycling bins for soft plastics.
Soft plastics include biscuit packets, bread bags, bubble wrap, cellophane from flower bunches, cereal box liners, and plastic bags.
Soft plastics should be clean and dry before being placed in the recycling bin.
Soft plastics are recycled into new products such as synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or they might be recycled into other plastic products.
