THE PLASTIC CONUNDRUM

One day, my husband said to me, “Please help demystify plastic recycling.  I know plastic water bottles go into the blue curbside bin, but what about plastic bags?” So, this is for you, honey!

Plastic bags cause some of the biggest problems in the recycling world.  Many plastic bags are marked “recyclable”; that makes people think those bags can be placed in any recycling cart. In fact, plastic bags should be placed ONLY in special plastic bag collection bins. These bins are found at most grocery stores. 

Plastic bags do NOT go into the blue curbside collection cart.  Plastic bags get caught in the machinery at the recycling sorting facility and their removal is costly.

Plastic bags do NOT go into the green curbside compost collection cart; they do not compost.  ONLY COMPOSTABLE BAGS should go into the green carts. Compostable bags are labeled with the following logo: 

Most plastic bags can go into the plastic collection bins at the grocery stores. The following is a list of what goes into these bins:

• Clean and dry zip lock bags
• Plastic cereal box liners
• Air pillows for shipping (deflate)
• Bubble wrap
• Shopping bags
• Bread bags
• Produce bags (remove labels)
• Newspaper bags
• Dry cleaning bags
• Product wrap on cases of water bottles, paper towels, etc. 
• Plastic shipping envelopes (remove labels)

Here is an important rule of thumb about plastic:  If the plastic stretches when you try to poke your finger through it, then it can go into the plastic collection bin at the grocery store.

There are some plastics that should not go into these bins because they are treated with special polymers. These polymers help keep food fresh or allow the plastic to hold more weight. This treatment prevents the plastic from being recycled. The following plastics do NOT go into grocery store collection bins:

• Frozen food plastic bags 
• Plastic bags for soil, fertilizer and compost 
• Pre-washed salad mix bags
• Candy bar wrappers
• Chip bags
• Six-pack rings

Here is the website for plastic bag collection https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/

Plastic that has food product on it cannot be recycled because it is contaminated. For example, hot dog plastic wrappers, bags with shredded or packaged cheese, and plastic that comes wrapped around hams or turkeys must all be placed in the trash carts.  

Hard plastics, like a plastic laundry basket, pet carrier, or cat litter bucket, may go into the blue curbside bin as long as all the metal is removed.

RECYLING CELLOPHANE

At this time, there is no way to recycle cellophane – UGH!  So many things come packaged in cellophane or what seems like cellophane – pasta is one good example. Here’s a thought – buy pasta in boxes instead. 

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CELLOPHANE AND RECYCLABLE PLASTIC? Cellophane makes a crinkling noise and is usually transparent. It must go into the trash cart.  

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

I have been involved in recycling for as long as I can remember.  Recently, at a Recycling Block Leader Appreciation Luncheon held by Austin Resource Recovery, I was honored for 26 years of service to the City of Austin recycling movement.  I was so surprised and humbled to receive this award – humbled because the room was filled with staff from Austin Resource Recovery, who works tirelessly to put Austin in the forefront of the recycling movement, and volunteer block leaders, who try to lead and inspire their neighbors to recycle and to help make Austin Zero Waste free by 2040.