Plastic Bags/Product Wrap
Plastic bags and product wrap are NOT accepted for curbside recycling! Plastic bags and product wrap can be returned to most major retail stores (Walmart, Target, Wegmans, Tops, etc.) for recycling. Many other types of plastic bags/wrap can be included as well. They are also accepted at ecopark.
- Find a local retail drop off location based off your zip code at plasticfilmrecycling.org
- ecopark, 10 Avion Drive, Rochester, NY 14624
- Video: Wegmans: Recycling Bags & Plastic Wrap
Acceptable Plastic Bags/Product Wrap
To determine if a plastic bag/wrap is recyclable, try the rule of thumb. If you can put your thumb through the plastic and it stretches, it is likely the correct type of plastic film for recycling (polyethylene often marked #2 or #4). Recycle the following CLEAN and DRY plastics with your grocery bags at the store or at ecopark.
- Groceries/Retail Bags
- Newspaper Bags
- Cereal/Cracker Box Liners
- Dry Cleaning Bags
- Bread Bags (labels OK)
- Produce Bags NO Prewashed Salad Mix Bags
- Zip-Type Bags NO slide mechanism
- Stretch/Shrink Wrap
- Deflated Air Pillows
- Bubble Wrap
- Plastic Shipping Envelopes (labels OK)
Unacceptable Items
If a plastic bag/wrap is shiny, crinkly, or tears like paper it is likely not the correct type of plastic film for recycling (any film marked with a #5 or #7 should be disposed of). If it fails the rule of thumb and you cannot put your thumb through the plastic and make it stretch, it is not acceptable for plastic film recycling. Do NOT return these items with your plastic bags. Dispose of in the trash.
- Soil/Mulch Bags
- Frozen Food Bags
- Plastic with Strings, Rigid Handles, or Closing Mechanisms
- Degradable Bags
- Condiment Packets
- Mylar (Potato Chip) bags
- Candy/Granola Bar Wrappers
- Pet Food Bags
- Resealable Pouches
Due to their multi-layer, multi-material composition, these materials are not accepted for curbside recycling or plastic film recycling at retailers. Click here to view select mail in programs for recycling.
