Can you recycle plastic bags?

Plastic bags and film are recyclable, just not in your curbside bin — they wrap around the sorting machines and shut the line down. The right place is a store film drop-off; otherwise they go in the black trash cart.

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Store drop-off (the real recycling)

Grocery and big-box stores have a plastic-bag/film collection bin near the entrance. Clean, dry grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, dry-cleaning bags, bubble wrap, and shipping air pillows all go there together.

What can't be dropped off

Bags that are dirty, wet, or crinkly (like chip bags and candy wrappers) aren't recyclable film — those are trash. If a bag doesn't stretch when you pull it, it's probably not the right kind.

Best of all

Reuse them, or switch to reusable bags — plastic-bag recycling rates stay low even when you drop them off.

Plastic Bags — quick FAQ

Can plastic bags actually be recycled?

Yes, but only through store film drop-off bins, not your curbside recycling cart — they jam the sorting machinery there.

Which plastic bags are not recyclable?

Dirty, wet, or crinkly bags — chip bags, candy wrappers, and frozen-food bags. Only clean, stretchy film (grocery, produce, and bread bags, plus bubble wrap) belongs in a drop-off.

Can normal plastic bags be recycled?

Clean grocery and produce bags can, at a store film drop-off. Don't put them in the blue curbside cart.

What happens if I put plastic bags in the recycling bin?

They tangle the sorting equipment and can send a whole batch to the landfill, so keep them out of the curbside cart.

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