Chloe Zhang
Plastic bags are a common household item, but what happens when you're done with them? Can they be recycled in New Jersey? The short answer is yes, but not in your curbside recycling bin. Plastic bags can clog or damage the recycling center's processing equipment, so they are considered contaminants in the recycling process. However, many supermarkets and big-box stores in New Jersey have containers available for customers to recycle plastic bags, and some municipal and county recycling programs also have plastic bag delivery points. Recycled plastic bags are often used to create composite deck material, such as that found on New Jersey Shore boardwalks. So, while you can't throw them in your curbside recycling, there are other ways to ensure your plastic bags are properly recycled in New Jersey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can plastic bags be recycled in New Jersey? | Yes |
| Where can plastic bags be recycled? | Supermarkets, big box stores, municipal and county recycling programs, Middletown Recycling Center, Target, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Shop Rite |
| Can plastic bags be recycled in curbside containers? | No |
| Why can't plastic bags be recycled in curbside containers? | Plastic bags interfere with the mechanical recycling process by causing slowdowns, stoppages, and potential damage to recycling processing equipment. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Plastic bags cannot be recycled in residential curbside containers
- Plastic bags can be recycled at some supermarkets and big box stores
- Plastic bags can cause damage to recycling processing equipment
- Plastic bags can be recycled into composite deck material
- Plastic bags are valuable when recycled properly
Plastic bags cannot be recycled in residential curbside containers
So, what can residents of New Jersey do with their plastic bags? Well, plastic bags by themselves can be recycled. Many supermarkets and big-box stores have containers available for customers to recycle plastic bags. Clean, dry plastic shopping bags, bread bags, and other kinds of plastic film can be brought to new drop-off sites throughout Union County. Additionally, many stores in Middletown, including Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, Target, and Whole Foods, accept plastic bags for recycling free of charge.
It is important to note that the curbside recycling container is meant for specific items only. These include:
- Newspaper
- Mixed paper, including junk mail, magazines, catalogs, school papers, and office papers
- Paper packaging
- Paperboard cartons for food, such as cereal boxes, pasta boxes, and tissue boxes
- Softcover books
- Phone books
- Cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum and steel cans and lids
- Plastic bottles and jars with #1 or #2 found on the bottom
- Milk and juice cartons
By following these guidelines and properly disposing of plastic bags, residents of New Jersey can help create a cleaner recycling stream, benefiting both the environment and taxpayers.
Plastic Bags: Are They All Safe for Food?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic bags can be recycled at some supermarkets and big box stores
In New Jersey, plastic bags cannot be recycled in curbside bins. They clog or damage the recycling center's processing equipment. However, they can be recycled at some supermarkets and big box stores, which have containers available for customers to recycle plastic bags.
Camden County, for instance, has a list of stores in the area that accept plastic bags for recycling. Union County also has drop-off sites throughout the county where residents can bring clean, dry plastic shopping bags, bubble wrap, bread bags, and other plastic films. The company Trex upcycles the film to make decking and other outdoor products.
Middletown, NJ, also collects clean plastic bags for recycling at the Middletown Recycling Center. Many stores in Middletown, including Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, Target, and Whole Foods, accept plastic bags free of charge and usually have collection bins located within the store's entrance.
It is important to note that plastic bags should be recycled properly using a different system than single-stream recycling. When recycled correctly, plastic bags can be valuable and can be created into products such as decking, playground equipment, and fences.
Starch-Based Plastic Bags: Compostable or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic bags can cause damage to recycling processing equipment
In New Jersey, plastic bags cannot be recycled in curbside residential containers. They are considered contaminants in Single Stream residential recycling and are known to cause potential damage to recycling processing equipment.
Jamming and clogging
Plastic bags can jam the processing equipment at recycling facilities. They can wrap around moving parts, causing the equipment to shut down. This can result in production slowdowns or even stoppages, requiring manual intervention to remove the bags and clear the machinery.
Tangling and blinding
Plastic bags have a tendency to tangle around the discs of screening equipment, causing screen blinding. This prevents smaller materials from passing through the screen, leading to inefficiencies in the sorting process. It may also require additional sorting stages to separate mixed materials, such as glass shards and paper waste.
Contamination
When plastic bags clog or tangle in the machinery, it can lead to recycling waste buildup. This increases the risk of contamination as the waste remains mixed and cannot be processed promptly. Contamination can also occur when plastic bags are mistakenly sorted with other recyclables, such as paper or cardboard.
Damage to specific equipment
Certain types of equipment, such as star screeners, are particularly vulnerable to plastic bags. The bags can wrap around the star-shaped discs, causing tangling and clogging. This can lead to reduced efficiency or even damage to the equipment, requiring maintenance or repairs.
It is important for residents of New Jersey to properly dispose of plastic bags and not place them in their curbside recycling containers. Instead, they should be taken to designated drop-off sites or recycling centers that accept plastic bags.
Bleach and Plastic: Safe or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic bags can be recycled into composite deck material
In New Jersey, plastic bags cannot be recycled in residential curbside containers. They are considered contaminants in Single Stream residential recycling and can cause slowdowns, stoppages, and potential damage to recycling processing equipment. However, plastic bags can be recycled at specific locations, such as supermarkets and big box stores, that have containers for customers to recycle them.
One company that recycles plastic bags is Trex, which uses recycled plastic film and other recycled components like grocery and shopping bags to create composite deck material. Trex is one of the largest recyclers of polyethylene film in North America and has recycled over 5.5 billion pounds of polyethylene film since its inception. Their manufacturing process is eco-friendly, and they actively work to reduce their environmental impact across their supply chain.
Trex's NexTrex Recycling Challenge educates the public about plastic film recycling and encourages the collection of plastic film for recycling. Schools, churches, or community organizations that collect and send in 1,000 pounds of plastic receive an eco-friendly bench made from recycled plastic materials. The NexTrex program provides accountability in the plastic bag recycling process, with participants taking pictures of the drop-off and pick-up process at local grocery stores and distribution docks.
The recycled plastic bags and film are turned into composite decking and other outdoor products through a process described by Trex's materials and recycling programs manager, Stephanie Hicks: "It is typically pelletized, then we mix it with wood dust, and out comes a decking board." This process helps consumers understand that their recyclables are being used domestically to create U.S.-made products.
Trex's commitment to sustainability and recycling has been recognized through various awards, including the Indiana Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and the Connecticut College's Inherit the Earth Gold Medal for balancing profitability with environmental sustainability. Their decking products offer a smaller carbon footprint than wood and incorporate locally sourced reclaimed wood, ensuring that no trees are cut down in the manufacturing process.
Bunnies and Plastic Bags: A Dangerous Chew
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Plastic bags are valuable when recycled properly
Plastic bags cannot be placed in curbside recycling bins in New Jersey. They clog the recycler's sorting systems and damage the recycling center's processing equipment. However, plastic bags can be recycled properly through other means, and when this is done, they become valuable resources that can be used to create new products.
Many supermarkets and big-box stores in New Jersey have containers available for customers to recycle plastic bags. Examples of stores in New Jersey that accept plastic bags for recycling include Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, Target, and Whole Foods. Additionally, Union County in New Jersey has drop-off sites where residents can bring clean, dry plastic shopping bags, bubble wrap, bread bags, and other plastic films for recycling.
When plastic bags are recycled properly, they can be used to create valuable products such as composite deck material, playground equipment, fences, and other outdoor products. For example, the company Trex upcycles plastic film into decking and other outdoor products. Recycled plastic bags are also used in composite deck material found on many of the newer Jersey Shore boardwalks.
Recycling plastic bags properly not only helps the environment but also has economic benefits. In Middletown, New Jersey, it was found that plastic bags accounted for over 70% of recycling contamination. By reducing the number of plastic bags in the recycling stream, the recycling product becomes more profitable and increases in value. Therefore, proper disposal of plastic bags can lead to significant cost savings for the town and taxpayers.
In summary, while plastic bags cannot be recycled through curbside bins in New Jersey, they can be recycled properly through other means, such as drop-off locations at stores and recycling centers. When recycled properly, plastic bags become a valuable resource that can be used to create a variety of new products, benefiting both the environment and the economy.
How to Recycle Plastic Bags at Publix?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic bags can be recycled in New Jersey, but not in curbside bins. They can be recycled at drop-off sites throughout the state.
Plastic bags can clog or damage the recycling center's processing equipment. They are considered a contaminant and interfere with the mechanical recycling process, causing slowdowns and stoppages.
Many supermarkets and big box stores have containers available for customers to recycle plastic bags. There are also dedicated drop-off sites throughout the state, including in Camden County and Union County.
Clean, dry plastic shopping bags, bread bags, and other kinds of plastic film can be recycled. Single-use plastic bags are more difficult to recycle due to the time and labor required to process them.
Recycled plastic bags are often used to create new products such as composite deck material, outdoor furniture, and decking.
