Plastic bags and film wrap require special handling -- here is how to recycle them responsibly
Note
This guide provides general recycling information based on common US municipal standards. Recycling rules vary by location, so please check with your local waste management authority for specific guidelines in your area.
Film plastic -- also called flexible plastic -- refers to any plastic that is thin and flexible enough to be stretched or wrapped. This includes grocery bags, produce bags, bread bags, shrink wrap, and bubble wrap. Film plastic is typically made from polyethylene (PE), either high-density (HDPE, #2) or low-density (LDPE, #4).
Film plastic is NOT accepted in curbside recycling bins in most US municipalities. Plastic bags and film wrap get tangled in the sorting equipment at recycling facilities, causing costly shutdowns and equipment damage. Even one plastic bag can halt an entire sorting line.
Instead, film plastic should be taken to store drop-off collection bins, which are available at most grocery stores and big-box retailers across the country.
Not sure if something counts as film plastic? Use the stretch test: grab the material and try to stretch it with your fingers. If it stretches, it is likely film plastic and can go to a store drop-off bin. If it tears or crinkles without stretching, it is a different type of plastic and does not belong with film plastic.
| Film Plastic Type | Examples | Store Drop-Off? |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery bags | Bags from supermarkets, convenience stores, retail shops | Yes |
| Produce bags | Thin bags from the produce section for fruits and vegetables | Yes |
| Bread bags | Bags from sliced bread, bagels, English muffins | Yes |
| Newspaper sleeves | Thin plastic wrapping around delivered newspapers | Yes |
| Dry cleaning bags | Thin plastic garment covers from dry cleaners | Yes |
| Bubble wrap | Packaging material with air-filled bubbles | Yes |
| Ziploc / resealable bags | Storage bags, sandwich bags, freezer bags | Yes (remove zipper if possible) |
| Shrink wrap | Stretch film around pallets, cases of water, multipacks | Yes |
| Cling wrap / saran wrap | Kitchen plastic wrap for food storage | No |
| Chip bags / snack bags | Metallized film bags for chips, candy, granola bars | No |
| Frozen food bags | Bags for frozen vegetables, pizza, meals | No |
| Candy wrappers | Individual candy bar or sweet wrappers | No |
Many products now carry the How2Recycle label on their packaging. If you see the label that says "Store Drop-Off" with a bag icon, it means that packaging should be brought to a retail collection bin -- not placed in your curbside bin. This label is your quick guide to knowing which films are accepted at store collection points.
Since film plastic cannot go in your curbside bin, the proper way to recycle it is through store drop-off programs. Most major grocery chains and big-box retailers have collection bins near their entrances.
Shake out any crumbs or debris. If the bag or film has food residue, rinse it with water and let it dry completely before collecting it.
If the plastic stretches when you pull it, it is film plastic and can be dropped off. If it tears, crinkles, or feels stiff and crunchy, it does not qualify.
Remove any paper labels, receipts, or rigid plastic pieces. For Ziploc bags, cut off the rigid zipper closure if you can.
Stuff all your clean, dry film plastics into a single plastic bag. This makes it easy to carry and keeps everything together for drop-off.
Next time you go shopping, bring your bag of collected film plastics and place it in the store's collection bin. Tie the bag loosely so workers can verify the contents.
The most effective approach is to keep a dedicated bag or container in your kitchen or garage for collecting film plastics throughout the week. When it is full, toss it in your car so you remember to drop it off on your next shopping trip. Many people find that once they start this habit, it becomes second nature within a few weeks.
When properly collected through store drop-off programs, film plastic is recycled into useful new products:
This is the number one rule for film plastic. Plastic bags and film wrap are the single biggest source of contamination problems at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs). They wrap around spinning shafts, gears, and conveyor belts, requiring workers to shut down equipment and manually cut them free -- sometimes multiple times per day. This costs the recycling industry hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Metallized film looks shiny on the inside, almost like a mirror. You can confirm it by:
Fact: Even though plastic bags are made from #2 HDPE or #4 LDPE -- the same resins as many rigid plastic containers -- they cannot be processed in the same equipment. Curbside recycling programs that accept "#2 and #4 plastics" are referring to rigid containers like jugs and tubs, not film and bags. Film plastic must always go to store drop-off.
Fact: Americans use an estimated 100 billion plastic bags per year. While each bag is light, the collective volume is enormous. Recycled film plastic is turned into composite lumber, new bags, and other products. Every bag dropped off at a store collection bin is one less bag that ends up in a landfill, river, or ocean.
Fact: Only plastics that pass the stretch test belong in store drop-off bins. Metallized wrappers (chip bags, candy wrappers), cling wrap, and multi-layer frozen food bags may look like film plastic but are made from incompatible materials. Including them contaminates the batch and can cause an entire load to be landfilled.
Fact: Plastic bags can take 10 to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill, depending on conditions. In marine environments, they break into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics, which enter the food chain and have been found in fish, birds, and even human blood.
Fact: While a cotton tote bag does require more energy and water to manufacture than a single plastic bag, studies show that using a reusable bag just 50 to 150 times (depending on the material) offsets its higher production impact. Most people use their reusable bags hundreds of times, making them the clear environmental winner over the long term.
Plastic bags and film packaging are among the most visible forms of plastic pollution. Their lightweight nature means they easily escape from trash cans and landfills, blowing into waterways, trees, and ecosystems where they cause serious harm.
Plastic bags are one of the top items found during coastal cleanups. In the ocean, they look remarkably similar to jellyfish, causing sea turtles, whales, and seabirds to mistake them for food. Once ingested, plastic bags block digestive tracts and can be fatal.
Plastic bags also break down into microplastics over time. These tiny particles have been found in seafood, drinking water, and even the air we breathe. By properly recycling film plastic through store drop-off or -- better yet -- reducing its use altogether, you help keep these materials out of the ecosystem.
When you drop off film plastic at a store collection bin, here is what happens:
The best way to deal with film plastic is to use less of it. Here are practical strategies for reducing your reliance on single-use plastic bags and film packaging:
Keep reusable shopping bags in your car, by your front door, or in your purse or backpack so you always have them handy. Many fold into compact pouches for easy storage.
Replace single-use produce bags with washable mesh or cloth bags. They work just as well and can be reused for years.
Replace cling wrap and sandwich bags with reusable beeswax food wraps or silicone lids. They keep food fresh and can be washed and reused for months.
At the grocery store, select loose fruits and vegetables instead of pre-packaged options wrapped in film plastic. Bring your own bags for bulk items.
Store leftovers in glass containers or silicone bags instead of disposable Ziploc bags. Invest in a good set of containers with lids that seal well.
Say "no bag, thanks" for small purchases you can carry by hand. Decline double-bagging at checkout. Every bag refused is one less bag produced.
You do not have to eliminate all film plastic overnight. Start with one change -- like keeping reusable bags in your car -- and build from there. Once that becomes a habit, add another step, like switching to reusable produce bags or beeswax wraps. Over time, these small changes significantly reduce the amount of film plastic entering the waste stream.