Chloe Zhang
Plastic film is a thin and stretchy plastic commonly found in materials like grocery bags, bubble wrap, ZiplocⓇ bags, and dry cleaning bags. It is recyclable, but not through most curbside recycling programs as it can tangle sorting machinery. Instead, it is recycled through in-store drop-off programs or specialty recyclers. Recycled plastic films can become products like lumber, decking, construction materials, and new flexible plastic films.
Characteristics and Values of Recycled Plastic Film
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclability | Plastic films are generally recyclable, but not through most curbside systems. |
| Accepted Items | Grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, food wrap, plastic sheeting, zipper bags, polyethylene films, air pillows, packing materials, wrappers around utensils, overwrap around paper towels and toilet paper, etc. |
| Non-Accepted Items | Saran Wrap, Cling Wrap, any plastic with metallic, latex, vinyl, or insulated elements, or mixed with paper. |
| Preparation | Plastic film must be clean and dry before being recycled. |
| Drop-Off Locations | Retail stores, supermarkets, big box retailers, and specialty recyclers. |
| Recycling Process | Plastic film is baled and sold to independent companies. It is then turned into plastic pellets, which can be used to create new products such as synthetic lumber, decking, benches, playground sets, bags, pallets, containers, and pipes. |
| Environmental Impact | Recycling plastic film conserves resources, reduces waste, and decreases environmental impact by diverting plastics from landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Challenges | Plastic film can tangle sorting machinery, and there is a lack of demand for recycled plastic film, making it less profitable for recyclers. |
| Initiatives | Store Drop-off programs, the Hefty ReNew program, subscription services through specialty recyclers, community collection bins, and the Film & Flexibles Recycling Coalition. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic film is recyclable but not via curbside collection
Plastic film is a thin and stretchy plastic commonly found in materials like grocery bags, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, dry cleaning bags, and plastic shipping envelopes from online retailers. It is recyclable but not via curbside collection.
There are two main reasons why plastic film cannot be recycled through curbside collection. Firstly, since it is thin and stretchy, it can tangle up the sorting machinery in recycling facilities. This is a problem because it gums up the works, and recyclers would prefer that all recyclables are placed into the curbside bin loose, rather than in a bag. Secondly, there is not much demand for recycled plastic film, so it is often not considered worth the time and effort to recycle at scale. In 2018, just 11% of plastic film in the US was recycled.
However, plastic film can be recycled through store drop-off programs. There are thousands of retail stores and drop-off centres across the US and Canada that accept plastic film packaging for recycling. Many large retailers have recycling bins outside or inside their stores, and some companies, like Ridwell, will even pick up plastic film from consumers' doorsteps. Consumers can collect and save qualifying plastic films and bring them to these stores to be recycled.
It is important to ensure that the plastic film is clean and dry before placing it in the recycling bin. This is because food or liquid residue can contaminate the plastic film, reducing the likelihood that it will be recycled.
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Retailers accept plastic film for recycling
Plastic film is a flexible plastic material that has played a significant role in packaging and protecting products since the 1930s. It is important to recycle plastic film to conserve resources, reduce waste, and decrease environmental impact. While most recycling facilities are designed to handle plastic bottles and containers, plastic film is recycled differently and often requires specific drop-off locations or retailer-sponsored programs.
Retailers that accept plastic film for recycling include thousands of large retail stores and drop-off centers across the United States. These retailers have recycling bins where consumers can bring their plastic film packaging for recycling. The collected plastic film is then backhauled to multiple businesses that recycle it into new products.
It is important to note that not all flexible plastic packaging is accepted by these retailers, so it is essential to verify which materials are accepted before drop-off. Consumers can look for the How2Recycle label or scan the Smart Label on their packages to determine if their plastic film is eligible for recycling and where they can take it. Additionally, plastic film should be clean and dry before dropping it off to ensure effective recycling without contaminating other materials.
Some retailer-sponsored programs that collect plastic film include the Store Drop-off program and the Hefty ReNew™ program. The Store Drop-off program is available at participating retail stores, where consumers can bring their clean and dry plastic film packaging for recycling. The Hefty ReNew™ program is available in select municipalities, allowing consumers to recycle alternative plastics curbside.
Overall, retailers play a crucial role in accepting plastic film for recycling by providing convenient drop-off locations and partnering with recycling businesses to create new products from recycled plastic film. Consumers can contribute to these efforts by properly cleaning and sorting their plastic film packaging and verifying accepted materials before drop-off.
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Plastic film can be recycled into new products
Plastic film is a flexible plastic material that is often used for packaging. It is thin and stretchy and can be found in products like grocery bags, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, dry cleaning bags, and plastic shipping envelopes. While plastic film is recyclable, it is not always accepted by local waste handlers and recycling centers. This is because it can tangle in sorting machinery and there is a limited market for recycled plastic film, making it less profitable to recycle on a large scale.
However, plastic film can be recycled into new products through various programs and initiatives. Many retail stores and drop-off centers, particularly large grocery stores, accept plastic film for recycling. These stores often have collection bins for plastic film, and some companies even offer to pick up the material from your doorstep. The collected plastic film is then sent to recycling companies, which turn it into new products.
One such company is Trex, which uses recycled plastic film to create high-performance composite decking for homes. The plastic film is transformed into small pellets, which can then be made into decking boards, benches, and playground sets. These recycled products offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional construction materials.
Additionally, recycled plastic film can be used to create new flexible plastic films, such as bags, pouches, and packaging. This helps to reduce the demand for virgin plastics and diverts waste from landfills. It also saves energy, water consumption, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to manufacturing new plastics.
The recycling process for plastic film may vary depending on your location, so it is essential to check with your local recycling guidelines. Some programs may have specific requirements, such as ensuring the plastic film is clean and dry before dropping it off for recycling. By properly recycling plastic film, we can contribute to reducing plastic waste and promoting the creation of new, sustainable products.
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Plastic film is thin and stretchy
Plastic film is a thin and stretchy plastic commonly found in materials like grocery bags, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, dry cleaning bags, and plastic shipping envelopes from online retailers. It is also used in bread bags, newspaper bags, and the bags in grocery store produce sections. Plastic film excludes anything metallic, latex, vinyl, or insulated, or any plastic mixed with paper.
Due to its thin and stretchy nature, plastic film can tangle up sorting machinery in recycling facilities, and many curbside recycling services will not accept it. In addition, there is not much demand for recycled plastic film, so it is often not considered worth the effort to recycle at scale. As a result, plastic film must often be dropped off at speciality recyclers or store drop-off programs, which are typically located inside or outside the entrance of supermarkets or big box retailers.
However, it is important to note that plastic film can be recycled and is highly sought after by recyclers. Recycled plastic films can be turned into products like lumber/decking, stormwater management systems, construction materials, and new flexible plastic films. The process involves turning the plastic film into small pellets, which can then be made into new products.
To recycle plastic film, it is important to ensure that it is clean and dry before dropping it off at a recycling location. This helps prevent contamination and increases the likelihood that the plastic film will be successfully recycled.
Overall, while plastic film can be recycled, it is important to separate it from other recyclables and ensure it is properly cleaned and prepared before dropping it off at a designated recycling location.
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Plastic film is a common household plastic
Despite being a common household plastic, plastic film is not always easy to recycle through curbside systems. This is because it can tangle in sorting machinery at recycling facilities, and there is often not enough demand for recycled plastic film to justify the time and effort of recycling it at scale. In 2018, only 11% of plastic film in the US was recycled.
To recycle plastic film, it must first be clean and dry, with no food residue. It can then be taken to a speciality recycler or a store drop-off program, often found at supermarkets or large retailers. These programs are usually sponsored by retailers, who collect plastic films and bags from consumers and back-haul them to recycling businesses.
There are thousands of these drop-off locations across the US and Canada, and the number is growing as more companies include How2Recycle labels on their products. The Flexible Film Recycling Alliance (FFRA) manages the Plastic Film Recycling Directory, which provides information on where and how to recycle plastic films.
Recycled plastic films can become products like lumber, decking, construction materials, and new flexible plastic films. Recycling plastic film conserves resources, reduces waste, and decreases environmental impact by diverting plastics from landfills.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic film is the thin and stretchy plastic wrap around many household products and is commonly found in materials like grocery bags, bubble wrap, Ziploc bags, and bread bags.
Plastic film is often not easily recyclable through curbside systems. It is recommended to drop it off at a speciality recycler or at a store that offers in-store recycling programs.
Recycled plastic films can be reprocessed into small pellets, which can then be used to make new bags, pallets, containers, crates, and pipes. They can also be used to make products like lumber, decking, construction materials, and new flexible plastic films.
Recycling plastic film helps conserve resources, reduce waste, and decrease our environmental impact. It also helps divert plastics from landfills, preserving natural ecosystems and reducing the strain on raw materials.
