How to Recycle Plastic Grocery Bags

If you have hundreds of those plastic grocery bags stuck around the house in cabinets and drawers, you probably wonder what to do with them. You don't have to drown in them, though, and you don't have to throw them away. This guide will show you how to recycle them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Check with your local grocery store to see if they have a grocery bag recycling program. Many grocery store chains have a large container near the front where you can deposit your used plastic grocery bags.

2. Look in your local phone book for the nearest recycling center. If your local grocery store does not have a recycling program, you may still be able to take them someplace to be recycled. Contact your local recycling center to find out which types of plastics they recycle, and ask specifically about plastic grocery bags. Find out drop off times and the location of the center.

3. 
    

   Go online. If you can't find a recycling center listed locally, go to the Earth 911 website to find recycling centers and other recycling solutions in your general area (see Resources below).

4. Begin collecting your plastic grocery bags to recycle. Put them your plastics recycling bin and bring them to your local recycling location on a monthly basis. Now you can feel good that you are helping keep the earth a little greener.

Tips & Warnings

• There are plenty of ways to reuse plastic bags if you cannot find a place to recycle. Use them around the house, in the garage or at work to keep things safe and dust-free.
• Less than 1 percent of 100 billion plastic bags each year get recycled.
• The typical plastic grocery bag takes anywhere from 450 to 1,000 years to break down.

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[Psalmist4M]

on 6/17/2008 Great article. We all need to be more consistent and sensitive to this issue. I purchased bags offered by my local grocery store but am not consistently using it or taking gathered plastic bags to be recycled. We are all responsible to care.

[wordwhirler]

on 6/17/2008 The grocery stores have really made it easy to recycle plastic grocery bags--thank goodness!! There are also tons of ways to at least get more life out of them by using them for various other things around the house. Hopefully many readers will be inspired by your article to RECYCLE those bags! =)

[Mayasdad]

on 6/17/2008 good tips

[ursaminor]

on 6/17/2008 It's a great idea to recycle the bags, and there are millions of ways to reuse them, too. Letting them fill up the landfill and blow around on the freeway is such a waste! Thanks for a very useful article. 5 stars.

[ketl14]

on 6/17/2008 Grocery stores in my area sell canvas carry bags reasonable and may give discount. I live in an apartment and use mine for some garbage containers.