Maya Ellison
Plastic bags are a common source of marine debris and can be mistaken as food by birds and fish. They do not biodegrade, meaning they will take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. While plastic bags can be recycled, they cannot be placed in most curbside recycling bins as they can get stuck in recycling equipment and cause machinery to halt. To recycle plastic bags, consumers can drop them off at participating retail stores or collection bins in public parking lots or community centers. It is important to ensure that the bags are empty, clean, and dry, and to check with local recycling guidelines to confirm accepted materials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclable | Yes, but not in most curbside or drop-off programs |
| Recycling Process | Chipping into pellets, then reprocessed into new bags or other products |
| Environmental Impact | Recycling a ton of plastic bags saves 11 barrels of oil |
| Accepted in Store Drop-off Programs | Yes, but only if they have the Store Drop-off label |
| Accepted Plastics | Polyethylene-based plastics, including HDPE (#2 plastic) and LDPE (#4 plastic) |
| Preparation | Must be empty, clean, and dry |
| Contamination Risk | Yes, plastic bags are the #1 source of contamination in city curbside programs |
| Reuse vs. Recycle | Reusing is preferred due to low mass and energy/resource savings |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bags are a major source of marine debris
Plastic bags are a significant contributor to this problem because they are often not recycled properly. People see the recycling symbol and assume they can be included with other plastics in their curbside bins. However, plastic bags are a major source of contamination in city recycling programs as they can fly into the air and get stuck in machinery. As a result, many municipalities do not accept plastic bags in their curbside or drop-off recycling programs. Instead, they must be taken to a store drop-off location, where they can be recycled into products like lumber, decking, and construction materials.
The issue of plastic bags as marine debris is not limited to the disposal stage of their life cycle. Plastic bags, like many other plastic products, are made from petroleum and contain harmful pollutants such as pesticides, dyes, and flame retardants. These pollutants can be absorbed by marine life, polluting the human food chain. Research has shown that fish are ingesting plastic fragments and debris, with 35% of the fish caught during a 2008 Pacific Gyre voyage found to have ingested plastic pieces.
Furthermore, plastic bags can easily be mistaken for food by birds and fish, leading to detrimental effects on their growth and survival. Single-use plastic bags also represent an unsustainable use of resources. Recycling a ton of plastic bags saves 11 barrels of oil. By reducing our reliance on single-use plastics and properly disposing of and recycling plastic bags, we can help reduce the amount of plastic bag marine debris.
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Plastic bags don't biodegrade
Plastic bags are one of the most common sources of marine debris, often mistaken for food by birds and fish. They are made from oil, which few microbes can digest, so they do not decay easily and will take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill.
Labels like "biodegradable", "compostable", or "recyclable" are often misleading. Biodegradable bags are supposed to break down faster than regular plastics, but a study in England showed that this may not be the case. Researchers from the University of Plymouth tested five different types of plastic bags in various environments over time. After three years, the biodegradable bags were still functional and could hold groceries without breaking. Symphony Environmental Technologies, which made one of the oxo-biodegradable bags used in the study, stated that its products are meant to degrade on open landscapes or ocean surfaces, not in deep landfills or deep seas.
Biodegradable bags are sometimes made from materials that microbes can digest. Others may be held together with chemical bonds that break apart when exposed to water or sunlight. However, there is no standard for how quickly biodegradable bags should break down, and some may need special conditions, such as heat, to fully decompose.
To recycle plastic bags, they are chipped into pellets, which can then be reprocessed into new bags or shipped to a company to be manufactured into plastic lumber. In the US, plastic bags are not accepted in most curbside or drop-off recycling programs, but many are eligible for store drop-off recycling.
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Plastic bag recycling methods
Plastic bags are among the most common sources of marine debris, where they can be mistaken for food by birds and fish. They do not biodegrade, so they will take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. Recycling plastic bags involves chipping them into pellets, which can then be reprocessed into new bags or shipped to companies to be made into plastic lumber.
In the US, plastic bags are not accepted in most curbside or drop-off programs. However, many of these packages are eligible for store drop-off recycling, which is a retailer-sponsored program that collects plastic bags and other flexible plastic packaging in stores. Before dropping off your plastic bags, make sure they are clean and dry, and free of stickers, crumbs, and receipts, which can contaminate your bag load.
Some municipalities allow overflow to be bagged in large transparent recycling bags, but small plastic bags should not be used for recyclables, as they can end up in landfills. Most drop-off bag collections accept polyethylene film, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE or #2 plastic) and low-density polyethylene (#4 plastic or LDPE).
Although a small number of communities accept plastic bags in curbside bins, most do not, as they can jam machinery and require manual labour to clear. However, some curbside programs on both coasts of the US accept plastic bags to keep them out of the ocean.
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Plastic bag recycling rates
Plastic bags are among the most common sources of marine debris, and they can be mistaken for food by birds and fish. They do not biodegrade, meaning they will take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. Recycling a ton of plastic bags (about 450,000 bags) saves 11 barrels of oil.
In the United States, plastic bags, wraps, and films are not accepted in most curbside or drop-off programs. However, many of these packages are eligible for store drop-off recycling, which is a retailer-sponsored program that collects plastic bags and other flexible plastic packaging in stores. To recycle plastic bags, they are chipped into pellets, which can then be reprocessed into new bags or shipped to a company to be manufactured into plastic lumber.
The recycling rate for plastic bags, sacks, and wraps in the US was 10% in 2018, with about 4.2 million tons generated and 0.42 million tons recycled. While the overall amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%.
To recycle plastic film packages, check with your local municipality for information on what is accepted in your area. Look for the How2Recycle Store Drop-off label on flexible polyethylene-based plastics, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE, or #2 plastic) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE, or #4 plastic). Make sure that any food residue is cleaned and dried before placing it in the bin.
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Store drop-off recycling
Plastic bags and films are not accepted in most curbside or drop-off recycling programs in the US. However, many plastic bags and films are eligible for store drop-off recycling.
Before bringing your plastic bags to a store drop-off location, ensure that they are clean and dry. A light wipe with a dry cloth to remove any residue will work well. It is important to ensure that your plastics are clean so that they can be recycled effectively without contaminating other materials.
Not all types of plastic film are compatible with store drop-off streams. Generally, if plastic film can stretch and has an equilateral triangle with resin codes 2 or 4 on it, it can be recycled. You can also look for the How2Recycle Store Drop-off label on flexible polyethylene-based plastics, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE, or #2 plastic) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE, or #4 plastic).
After collection, the flexible plastic is baled and sold to independent companies, which turn the plastic into tiny plastic pellets. These pellets can become synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or they might be recycled directly into another film, pouch, or bag form.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on your local area. Plastic bags cannot be recycled at most curbside recycling bins as they can damage the machinery at recycling centers. However, some areas offer curbside recycling for plastic bags. You can check with your local program to see if they accept plastic bags.
You can recycle plastic bags at participating retail stores. Most national grocery retailers and many smaller retailers offer bag recycling collections in their stores.
Ensure that the plastic bags are clean and dry. A light wipe with a dry cloth will remove any residue. Make sure the bags have a #2 or #4 plastic symbol on them. If not, they cannot be recycled.
Plastic bags can fly into the air and get stuck in the machinery at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), causing them to halt their lines. They can also be difficult to recycle or break down.
Recycled plastic bags are turned into tiny plastic pellets, which can then be made into new products such as synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or new plastic bags.
