Plastic bags can be used over and over again if cared for properly.
How to reuse Ziploc bagsIf you use a lot of Ziploc bags, the cost can definitely add up. That includes removing any paper or food particles that may be inside.
Regardless of where you take your Ziploc or other plastic bags for recycling, make sure each is clean and dry before you drop them off. Check with your local solid waste district to see if it has a plastic bag collection center. Examples include Menomonie, WI, and Brielle, NJ. Some cities and counties accept film plastic at their local recycling centers.
The full bag should be about the size of a soccer ball. Also, all the plastic bags need to be stuffed into one bag to ensure the individual pieces stay put. The program requests that residents remove the “zip” portion before placing the bag in the bin. For example, San Antonio, TX, recently added plastic bag collection to its curbside program. You can also use 1800Recycling’s recycling search tool to find your closest plastic film recycler.Ī growing number of communities do accept film plastic at the curb, although the number is honestly still pretty small.
Just enter your ZIP code and it will find the nearest place to take any unwanted Ziploc bags. Not sure where your closest plastic bag recycler is located? has a search tool you can use. Many retailers offer bins right inside the door that collect film.
The best place to find recycling centers for these products is your local grocery store. How to recycle Ziploc bagsZiploc-brand bags and other sandwich bags can be recycled with other types of film plastic, including shopping bags, dry-cleaning bags and produce bags. That is why it is very important to carefully follow your community’s guidelines for recycling film. Loose Ziploc bags and other types of film plastic often get caught in recycling machinery, damaging equipment and causing downtime at recycling centers. When it flies out of trashcans and recycling bins it creates litter in neighborhoods and transfer stations - and usually ends up in the nearest dumpster. Since the plastic is so lightweight it becomes airborne easily. The hardest thing about recycling film is keeping it in your recycling bin. Most film is recycled into composite lumber, a highly durable building material that is used for decks, benches and playground equipment. Film is clear, thin plastic made of either low-density polyethylene (or LDPE, which corresponds to the recycling #4) or high-density polyethylene (or HDPE, which corresponds to the recycling #2). Ziploc bags (and other sandwich bags) are made with a product known as “film” in the recycling industry. Those who freeze meat, fish or produce may opt for vacuum-sealed bags, which create an airtight seal and keep food extra fresh during its long, cold storage period. Newer bags may have a small tab that runs across the top of the bag to seal it closed. There is the classic “zip” version, where you press together two interlocking pieces of plastic. Ziploc bags have several different kinds of closures. Other common names for this product include sandwich bags, snack bags, resealable plastic bags and food storage bags. The term “Ziploc bag” has become a generic way of referring to any self-sealing bag that is used to store food or other items. What are Ziploc bags?Ziploc is a brand name for plastic storage bags and many other products made by SC Johnson. That means the most challenging part of recycling Ziploc bags may be getting your kids to remember to bring their empty sack lunches back home with them. Even better: In most communities, recycling locations are more plentiful than you might think. The good news is that Ziploc bags are recyclable. If all those bags are thrown away, that quickly adds up to a massive amount of plastic going into local landfills and incinerators. The average American family uses 500 Ziploc bags every year.