Recycling Plastic Bags
Plastic bags can be made into dozens of new and useful products. According to the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, more than 1,800 U.S. businesses handle or reclaim post-consumer plastics. According to the EPA, only about 12 percent of bags and film were recycled in 2007. Many consumers are not aware that collection programs are available at stores.
It takes 91 percent less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper. For every seven trucks needed to deliver paper bags, only one truck is needed for the same number of plastic bags. Plastics can help trash burn more efficiently in energy-recovery facilities, creating energy that can be used to make electricity in some communities. When one ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil is saved.
Small plastic bags made up about 9 percent of the debris found along various U.S. coasts in a five-year study.
Due to their light weight, most curbside programs do not accept plastic bags. They can easily get stuck inside machinery when recycled as well. However, most grocery stores throughout the U.S. now offer plastic bag recycling. However, the trick is actually remembering to take those excess bags 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 bags. It will be easy to notice once you leave the house.
- When filling out your grocery list, make sure to add “recycle plastic bags.”
- Don’t forget about the other light weight plastics! Plastic film, dry cleaning bags, newspaper bags and plastic wrap from products can be recycled at your grocery store as well.
- Toss your leftover plastic bags in your reusable shopping bags. You’ll remember both on your next trip to the store.
