Paper or plastic? Environmentally conscious shoppers know the answer: none of the above. They know reusable totes beat paper or plastic every time. Forgoing plastic bags at the store has a big impact. But what about all the other plastic packaging in our lives? Film that wraps itself around our favorite snacks, air pillows and bubble wrap mailed to us daily, and newspaper bags magically appearing on our driveway.
While it is most important to reduce our consumption of single use plastics such as bags and film, it’s nearly impossible to avoid these stretchy, sneaky plastics. They’re everywhere. Yet, they can’t be recycled in our curbside carts. They can, however, be easily recycled at local stores.
Are these plastics all foes to the planet, or could they be recycled and reimagined as an eco-friendly material?
The plastic bags and film that you recycle at the store are sold to manufacturers. They take on a second life as bottles and containers, plastic lumber, picnic tables, lawn furniture, playground equipment, recycling bins and more. Trex combines recycled film with reclaimed woods to create a wood-alternative decking and railing used in local parks, pathways and backyard patios.
See how companies like Trex are reimagining plastic film as an Eco-friendly alternative to traditional wood lumber.
Recycle these plastic films if they are clean and dry only:
- Air Pillows and Bubble Wrap
- Case Wrap, Pallet/Stretch Wrap
- Newspaper and Magazine Sleeves
- Bags on Clothing or Electronics
- Dry Cleaning Bags
- Bread Bags, Produce Bags, Food Storage Bags (but NOT frozen food or salad bags)
- Grocery/Retail Bags & Other Film Packages
Please only recycle film that is clean and dry. Moisture causes mildew on film and cannot be accepted at stores. For a printable guide, click here.
Plastic bags and film can be recycled at participating locations such as all grocery stores in The Woodlands, the Precinct 3 Recycling Facility and department stores such as Walmart and Target. Look for a receptacle near the entrance or ask staff at the service desk. Please note, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some locations may not be accepting plastics at this time. If either is the case, please collect your bags/wraps at home until events change. Bags/wraps can be compressed and stored inside another plastic bag.
Plastic bags and bagged recyclables are not accepted in our curbside recycling cart program because sorting equipment is not designed to process it without damaging equipment or creating hazardous work conditions for staff. Find more information in Recycling Dilemma #1004 – To bag or not to bag.
Check out these recycling tips from previous blogs:
- Recycling Dilemma #1007 – How to stay caffeinated, sustainably
- Recycling Dilemma #1006 – Online Shopping
- Recycling Dilemma #1005 – Take-out Containers
- Recycling Dilemma #1004 – To bag or not to bag
- Recycling Dilemma #1003 – Moving Boxes and Oversized Cardboard
- Recycling Dilemma #1002 – Got Stuff?
- Recycling Dilemma #1001– Oversized Cardboard & Moving Boxes