Are plastic bags recyclable?
Recycling facilities have seen it all, so to speak.
Like toilets, for example. (Not recyclable, in case you’re wondering.) A prosthetic leg. (That one must have really stood out to the recycling facility crew.) They’ve seen lingerie. (We encourage being passionate about recycling, but not that passionate.)
Other items erroneously put into curbside recycling include bowling balls, power tools, refrigerators, family photo albums — even a Nile monitor lizard. (Rumpke Waste & Recycling said they had to call the Cincinnati Zoo to get the little guy sorted out.)
But when it comes to recycling facilities, there is a clear Public Enemy No. 1. And it sure isn’t lizards.
It’s plastic bags.
Yes, that small plastic bag that helpfully carries your groceries from the store to your home creates big problems for the average materials recovery facility, or MRF. That includes plastic bags of all sorts, garbage bags, too — even if they claim to be recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable.
Same goes for plastic wrap and other soft plastic items like dry cleaner bags, and the plastic wrap around toilet paper and paper towels — those are not recyclable either.
Hot tip: when it comes to curbside recycling, soft plastics are a hard no.
(Of note, in 2023, Reynolds Consumer Products, the maker of Hefty brand bags, agreed to change its advertising language and pay up to $4 million to settle one of the multiple lawsuits it faced alleging that it was marketing its recycling collection bags illegally.)
Why can’t plastic bags go in your recycling bin?
Your plastic bags are flexible, but local recycling agencies’ rules are more rigid. Here’s why:
Plastic bags wrap around the equipment at the sorting facility, damaging the machines and causing shutdowns that waste time and tax dollars.
A recycling facility’s job is to sort: paper goes here, cardboard goes there, and plastic bottles go over that way. If recyclables are wrapped in plastic, they can’t be sorted.
Haulers can’t see if dangerous materials are contained within bags, so they typically send the whole bag to the landfill instead.
This video gives a good look at how plastic bags *literally* jam up the works when they get mixed with recycling.
To every rule, there are exceptions. About 50 local governments report accepting plastic bags in their recycling — covering about 1% of all American households, according to The Recycling Partnership. Meaning 99% of Americans cannot recycle plastic bags and other soft plastics.
Recycling reminder: Soft plastic, hard no.
If I can’t put them in my bin, how can I recycle my plastic bags?
Unlike toilets and lingerie, plastic bags are recyclable, just not through your curbside recycling program. But, here’s the good news: there are thousands of retail stores and other drop-off locations nationwide where you can get dispose of plastic film packaging made from polyethylene plastic (look for the #2 and #4 symbols).
Here are examples of soft plastic items you can recycle at these drop-off locations, according to the American Chemistry Council. As always, check the guidelines for your local drop-off site, as rules may vary from place to place.
plastic bags
grocery bags
retail bags
plastic padded envelopes (eg: Amazon mailers)
bubble wrap
dry cleaning bags
bread bags
sandwich bags
freezer bags
produce bags
zipper bags
newspaper bags
Don’t forget about the plastic wrap that goes around things like cases of water, paper towels, diapers, and toilet paper. You can recycle these at many drop-off locations, too. Same goes for plastic shipping materials like bubble wrap and plastic shipping bags.
Tip: Designate a spot in your home, like a large plastic bag, drawer, or a cardboard box to collect plastic bags and other soft plastics. Be sure to remove items such as paper receipts and cut off paper mailing labels. Your plastic items should be clean and free of any food or drink residue. Don't include prewashed salad mix bags, degradable bags, cling wrap, or candy and snack packaging.
What happens to a recycled plastic bag?
Plastic bags are mostly recycled into new packaging or durable plastic lumber. Trex Company, one of the largest recyclers of plastic bags, makes outdoor decks, railings and other materials from 95% percent recycled materials.
Check out this video to see a plastic bag’s journey from a retail drop-off bin to outdoor seating area.
Other than recycling, how else can I reduce my plastic bag use?
Reducing your reliance on single-use plastic is a great goal. Here are some ideas:
Switch to reusable tote bags
Instead of using plastic bags when you go shopping, bring reusable tote bags. You can reuse them for years. You can say goodbye to small plastic produce bags too with reusable produce bags. Some U.S. locations now charge extra for plastic bags or have plastic bag bans to nudge us away from single-use items. Regardless if there are disincentives in your area, reducing plastic bag usage is a good goal for all of us.
Reuse plastic bags
Even if you are an avid reusable bag user, we all forget our bags sometimes. If you end up with plastic bags, give them a longer life! Use them as trash can liners. They’re the perfect size for small trash bins. If you have a dog, you can use them as a pet-waste bag - just be sure they don't have any holes. I also like to keep a couple in my car in case I have to contain a mess.
Learn about your community's options for recycling plastic bags
See where to recycle your plastic bags locally with our easy-to-use recycling guides:
Chicago I Flagstaff I Highland Park, IL I Houston I Lafayette I Los Angeles I Philadelphia I Santa Monica I Sedona I West Hollywood
