How to Dispose of Plastic Bags

Recycling or Throwing Away Bags

Check the bag for a #2 or #4 stamp. These are the types of plastic bags commonly accepted for recycling. Most bags will have some kind of stamp indicating what they are made of. For bags that don’t have a stamp, check their consistency instead. If they are degradable or easy to tear, then you should throw them in the trash. For example, food wrappers, like the bags prepackaged salad lettuce comes in, cannot be recycled. Since the bag is thin and tears when you pull it, you can tell it belongs in the trash. Most bags are made from high-density polyethylene, indicated by the #2 symbol. Low-density polyethylene bags, such as produce bags, have the #4 symbol.

Clean all debris out of the bags. Check them for receipts, crumbs, or anything else left over from when you last used the bags. Turn each bag upside-down to shake out anything you may have overlooked. Throw all the debris into the trash. Make sure the bags are clean and dry before recycling them. If you are unable to fully clean out a plastic bag, you may need to dispose of it in the trash.

Collect bags in a clean container until you’re ready to get rid of them. To protect the bags, store them someplace safe, like a designated trash bag. Keep them there until you have a chance to dispose of them. Make sure they don’t get wet or dirty before then. If you only have a couple of bags to get rid of, you can stuff them together and carry them to a recycling bin. Be careful not to lose any! Keep the trash bag inside so it doesn’t get wet. Make sure other people in your home know that it is for plastic bags only.

Contact your local municipality about their recycling program. City waste disposal services may accept plastic bags for recycling. However, many of them have special rules regarding how you go about submitting your bags. Although some still allow you to mix the bags in with other types of recycled goods, many services will have you separate them. If this is the rule, separate the bags into a separate recycling bin to prepare them for disposal. Call your city’s waste disposal department or recycling service for more information. Since plastic bags jam the machines used to sort recycled goods, some services may no longer even accept them for recycling. You may be asked to throw the bags away or take them to a retail drop-off point.

Deposit the bags in a retail recycling station if your city doesn’t take them. Many retailers have set up collection points for plastic bags. If the location has one, it is usually located at the front of the store. You can put all #2 and #4 bags in there no matter where you got them from. Not all retail locations accept plastic bags for recycling, so you should call ahead if you’re unsure about bringing a collection of bags into a store.

Throw bags in the trash if you are unable to recycle them. Toss the bags in with your weekly household trash. Pack them into a garbage bag tied tightly to prevent anything from getting out. Then, leave it out for your regular disposal service. The plastic bags will end up in a landfill with the rest of the trash. For example, throw away dirty or destroyed bags as well as any that aren’t marked #2 or #4. Make sure the trash bag is well-secured so that animals can’t get in. Also, always dispose of plastic bags in the trash instead of leaving them outside.

Reusing Plastic Bags

Reuse the plastic bags when you go shopping. Stuff a couple of bags into your pockets to pull out when you need to carry something. It’s a handy trick for stores that ask you to pack your own purchases. If the store has a bagger, ask to use your own bags. One way to make use of old bags is to carry them in a reusable shopping bag. Use the plastic bags to divide up groceries instead of throwing them all into the same bag, for example. Some stores now charge money for plastic bags, so you can save a little extra by bringing your own!

Line small trash cans with plastic bags. Save trash bags by making use of the plastic bags you already have. Use them to line smaller garbage bins, or carry a few around with you while you’re cleaning your home. It’s a good way to reuse bags you can’t otherwise recycle. Store some bags in your car. They are handy for collecting trash, especially if you travel a lot. Most plastic bags have handles, making them easy to tie closed when you’re done using them. Toss them into a trash bag or your trash bin when you’re done.

Get rid of pet waste with old plastic bags. If you have a dog, you may be familiar with the age-old problem of not having a way to clean up during a walk. Plastic bags provide convenient ways to scoop up waste. You can then easily tie the bag closed when you’re done using it. It’s a safe and sanitary way to deal with this problem. The bags can also be used at home, such as if your pets are paper-trained or have a cage. If you have a cat, you could try lining their litter box with plastic bags. It will save you some money on plastic liners.

Use bags to cover your shoes or other surfaces you wish to protect. Plastic bags, as long as they aren’t damaged, are waterproof. Tie them around your shoes when you’re storing or moving them. You could tape bags to a table surface for protection while you’re making crafts. Balled-up bags are also good for cushioning items in storage. For instance, try balling up some plastic bags and packing them into a box when shipping something delicate. That way, you won’t have to buy packing peanuts.

Make crafts with the plastic bags. One easy way to reuse a bag is to fold it into a parachute for action figures. You could also cut bags into strips, then braid the strips together to make various projects. Many people make damage-resistant rugs, hats, bags, and jump ropes this way. If you know how to knit or crochet, you can use plastic strips in place of yarn.