Conservation tip: Recycle Beyond the Bag... Recycle Plastic Film

You may know that plastic bags are recyclable, but did you know that plastic film is, too? Plastic film, such as produce bags, dry cleaning bags, the wrap around paper towels and diapers, and more, can be recycled along with plastic bags.

There are a few differences between recycling plastic film and recycling other plastics, like bottles, jars and jugs. The main difference? Except in a few cases, plastic film cannot be recycled in your curbside bin at home. Instead, it must be taken to a drop-off location, like a grocery or other retail store, to be collected for recycling.

What happens when you put plastic film in your curbside bin?  While a few local programs accept bags and wraps (not Montgomery County) in their curbside collection programs, most do not. That’s because the bags and wraps have to be clean and dry to be recycled, and collecting them in curbside bins with bottles and containers generally leaves them too dirty and wet to be recycled. Additionally, bags and films can jam sorting machinery, creating problems for the businesses that sort recyclables.

Like all plastics collected for recycling, plastic film can be recycled into many useful products. Plastic film can be used to make composite lumber for making decks, benches, and playground sets. Plastic film can also be reprocessed into small pellets, which can be made into new bags, pallets, containers, crates, and pipe.

The following link will show you the types of plastic film that can be recycled and where to drop it off for proper recycling.  We are lucky!  We have plenty of drop off options: the Westbard Giant, the Whole Foods and the Safeway at Sangamore to name a few.
​www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/