You’re unloading groceries at home and putting everything away when you’re left with a pile of plastic grocery bags. You can certainly keep these on hand to reuse, but if you want to reduce clutter, what should you do with them? Do they belong in the trash — or can they be recycled? Let’s clear things up.
Can You Recycle Plastic Grocery Bags?
Yes – but generally not in your standard curbside recycling bin.
Plastic grocery bags are classified as plastic film, typically made from polyethylene (PE). While they are recyclable, they are not accepted in curbside recycling bins. When placed in curbside recycling, plastic bags can tangle equipment at recycling facilities, slowing down or disrupting the entire process.
How Do You Recycle Plastic Grocery Bags?
There are several options for recycling plastic grocery bags responsibly:
- Store Drop-off: Many grocery and retail stores (including national chains and local grocers) provide collection bins specifically for plastic film, often found near store entrances.
- Municipal Drop-off Locations: Some municipalities manage their own film recycling drop-off sites for residents.
- Subscription & Mail-back Programs: Services like Ridwell or similar providers offer mail-in or doorstep pickup options for plastic film.
- Specialty Curbside Programs: A very small number of communities offer dedicated film recycling through special bags or collection programs, separate from standard curbside recycling.
You can find film recycling options near you — including store drop-off locations — using the Plastic Film Recycling Directory map tool.
Prep Before You Drop
Before dropping off plastic grocery bags for recycling, take a few quick steps to make sure they’re accepted and properly processed.
- Clean and Dry: Shake out crumbs, receipts, or debris. If the bags are dirty or contaminated with food residue, they should be thrown away to avoid contaminating the recycling stream.
- Bundle Your Bags: Place multiple plastic grocery bags inside one bag before dropping them off. Bundling helps keep materials organized and makes collection more efficient.
What Happens to Recycled Plastic Grocery Bags?
When collected through film recycling programs, plastic grocery bags can be processed and reused in a variety of new products, including:
- Composite Lumber & Decking: One of the most common end markets for recycled plastic film.
- Trash Bags & Liners: Many garbage bags include recycled film content.
- Outdoor Products: Items such as park benches, playground equipment, and new plastic bags can also be made from recycled film.
Recycling plastic grocery bags isn’t complicated, but it does require a little extra thought. By keeping them out of curbside bins and returning them through film recycling programs, you’re helping ensure they’re recycled properly instead of ending up in landfills. See what else is accepted for film recycling here.
