Eco Corner: Plastic Bag and Film Recycling - More than Shopping Bags
Did you know that many products we encounter on a daily basis are made out of plastic “film” and can be recycled? Plastic film is used to create many products including newspaper bags, bread bags, and even the wrapping on the outside of paper towels and toilet paper.
Plastic “film” or thin flexible sheets of plastic is typically defined as any plastic less than 10 mm thick. The majority of plastic film is made from polyethylene resin and can be recognized by the common recycling symbols #2 and #4.
Plastic film, including consumer shopping bags and other plastic film products, are recycled into many different products. Plastic bags can be made into second generation products including durable building and construction products, door and window frames, exterior moldings, and low-maintenance fencing and decks. Plastic bags can also be reprocessed into post-consumer resin used in the production of new bags, pallets, containers, crates and pipes.
What can be recycled?
Dry, clean and not pigmented black plastic film products can all be recycled as part of grocery store and other retail-sponsored recycling programs. Below is a general list of the types of plastic film products that are accepted. Remember, the bags and film products must be dry and clean of food or other contaminants.
• Newspaper bags
• Dry cleaning bags
• Bread bags
• Produce bags
• Toilet paper, napkin, and paper towel wraps
• Furniture wrap
• Electronic wrap
• Plastic retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed)
• Grocery bag
• Plastic food storage bags (clean and dry) – (e.g. Ziploc® Bags)
• Plastic cereal box liners (if it tears like paper do not include)
• Tyvek (no glue, labels, other material)
• Diaper wrap (packaging)
• Plastic shipping envelopes (no bubble wrap/remove labels)
• Case wrap (e.g., snacks, water bottles)
• All clean, dry bags labeled #2 or #4.
There are some items that are considered to be contaminants and could jeopardize recycling programs if they are deposited in film recycling containers. The following items should not be included in film recycling containers:
NO food or cling wrap
NO prepackaged food bags including frozen food bags (e.g., prewashed salad bags)
NO film that has been painted or has excessive glue
NO other bags or films
NO bio-based or compostable plastic bags
Where Can Plastic Film Products Be Recycled?
In Evanston, plastic film and bag recycling is available many major grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail chains including Jewel-Osco, Dominick’s, Whole Foods, Walgreens and Target. Look for plastic bag and film recycling containers which are typically located in the front of these stores, or ask a sales representative for assistance. As reported in their annual corporate stewardship reports, Dominick’s and Jewel-Osco each recycled approximately 8,000 tons of plastic through their recycling programs, which includes consumer returned plastic film and bags. According to the National Chemistry Council, there are now nearly 12,000 locations across the country where consumers can bring back their plastic bags and product wraps to be recycled.
Do Plastic Bags and Film Need to Be Separated for Recycling?
No, the various plastic film products do not need to be separated in order to be recycled. The #2 and #4 plastic film are members of the same polyethylene “family” and do not separate at all when they are melted down. In fact, they blend quite harmoniously. When heated to ~400°F the #2 high density and #4 low density mix together into one substrate. A recycler who is producing the post-consumer material will test batches for content, and based on the dominant resin, will market or use the material accordingly.
For example, many bags used by department stores have historically been made from 50/50% blends and referenced as plastic #4. This is because the #2 high density and #4 low density polyethylene complement one another when mixed together. Each variety of polyethylene resin has different properties (see below for more information) which make it more appropriate for certain applications. For example, high density polyethylene has better tensile strength for heavier loads and tougher puncture resistance. That’s why you see it in grocery T-shirt bags. However, when you see the #2 HDPE on a grocery bag, there is also some content of low density in the bag as well. The #2 and #4 plastic film is blended together during the recycling process so there is no need for the consumer or the recycler to separate them.
Tips for Remembering to Recycle
Once you have identified the type of plastic film that is recyclable, the trick is to remember to take those items with you next time you go to the store. Here are a couple of reminding tips:
• Hang a cloth bag in your kitchen or garage where you put excess plastic film products. It will be easy to notice once you leave the house.
• When filling out your grocery list, make sure to add “recycle plastic film.”
• Remind family members of all the different types of plastic film that can be recycled.
• Toss your leftover plastic bags in your reusable shopping bags. You’ll remember both on your next trip to the store.
Understanding Plastic Recycling Numbers
Commonly referred to as “plastic numbers” or “recycling numbers”, the SPI Resin Identification Coding System is a set of symbols placed on plastics to identify the polymer type. It was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988, and is used internationally. The primary purpose of the codes is to allow efficient separation of different polymer types for recycling. Contrary to misconceptions, the number does not indicate how hard the item is to recycle, nor how often the plastic was recycled. It is an arbitrarily-assigned number that has no other meaning aside from identifying the specific plastic.
Plastic film products are typically made from one of two types of polyethylene resin, designated as #2 or #4 in the SPI Resin Identification Coding System. Information on each is provided below with some additional details on the characteristics and uses of each resin.
#2 HDPE or High Density Polyethylene
HDPE or High Density Polyethylene is labeled as number 2 in the SPI resin coding system. Plastic film made with this resin is characterized by high strength, low stretch, and crinkle to the touch. Examples include most grocery bags, t-shirt bags and bags with sealed air for packaging.
#4 LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE
Plastic film designated by the SPI resin code number 4 can be one of three different types of polyethylene resins: LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE.
LDPE or Low Density Polyethylene is used to create film that is turned into bags, such as thicker newspaper bags and bread bags, as well as bubble wrap. Film created from LDPE have high clarity and moderate stretch and strength characteristics.
LLDPE or Linear Low Density Polyethylene is used to create film that is turned into clear, thin bags such as newspaper and dry cleaning film. This variety of plastic film has moderate clarity and can be slightly tacky to the touch.
MDPE or Moderate Density Polyethylene film is used primarily for consumer paper packaging, such as toilet paper and paper towels. Plastic film made from this resin have moderate clarity, poor stretch and strength characteristics.