So, regardless of the fact that certain industries would prefer to keep single-use bags in circulation, refusing bags, keeping them in use for longer, and ensuring they are diverted to plastic bag recycling programs remains within consumers’ hands.Ĥ.
However, it is also estimated that each plastic bag is used for only 12 minutes on average before being discarded. We already know that most plastic shopping bags and produce bags will only be used once, and this addiction to single-use plastics can be largely attributed to plastics industry lobbyists. Each plastic bag is only used for around 12 minutes Even with recent calls for a reduction in plastic bag use, effective plastic bag recycling will be highly important to deal with the number of bags already in existence.ģ. While it is difficult to measure the true scale of plastic bag use, it is estimated that 5 trillion plastic bags are used each year across the globe! The US contribution to this figure is around 100 billion, with 12 billion barrels of oil required for manufacturing. Between 1 and 5 trillion plastic bags are used each year However, Thulin intended these durable bags for long term use that would negate the need to chop down trees for paper bags.Ģ. While other multi-material bags had been developed in the previous decade, Thulin was the first to create a simple one-piece bag with a high-load capacity. The plastic bag we recognize today was invented by Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin in the 1960s. The first plastic bag wasn’t supposed to be single-use To help get to the bottom of the plastic bag recycling process, here we look at nine plastic bag recycling facts so you have all the information you need to reduce, reuse, and recycle effectively. However, while recycling plastic bags has, historically been problematic, it’s not impossible, and until we witness worldwide decline in production and usage, there’s likely to be plenty of demand for services dedicated to dealing with these products – especially in light of COVID-19 and the temporary ban of reusable bags in so many places of business. The rationale is clear-plastic bags are one of the most prevalent items of trash in both landfills and the ocean and this, combined with the fact that plastic bag recycling is now on the rise, means many more states are likely to follow suit in the coming months and years. In fact, recent bans designed to discourage their use have been sweeping the nation, with California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont imposing state-wide legislation on single-use plastic bags.
#Recycle plastic bags free#
Recycling contributes to sustainability and provides valuable materials for American manufacturers, so we encourage you to continue recycling when and where possible.As businesses across the US commit to a greener future, it seems the days of free plastic bags in every grocery store are numbered. Thank you for your support of plastic film recycling. If you do shop, please take appropriate steps to help protect store employees so they can continue to provide essential products during this crisis. Bags/wraps can be compressed and stored inside another plastic bag.Īs always, please follow the direction of your local and state public health officials, and do not shop or take anything to a store/drop-off if there’s reason to suspect anyone in your household has been exposed to the coronavirus. If either is the case, please collect your bags/wraps at home until events change. And some of you are not able to venture out. Some stores have temporarily halted collection of plastic bags and wraps. Thank you for recycling your plastic bags and wraps.ĭuring this COVID-19 pandemic, we urge you to recycle your plastic bags, wraps, and other film packaging at drop-off locations ONLY WHEN AND WHERE POSSIBLE. They must be returned to participating drop-off locations such as retail stores for recycling. NOTE: Plastic bags/wraps typically do not get recycled in curbside bins. Plastic Film Education for Coordinators.Education for Post-Commercial Film Collection.Businesses Collecting Post-Commercial Film.What Happens to Plastic Film When It Gets Recycled.Plastic Film Education for Post-Consumer Film Collection.Add A Location to the Drop-Off Directory.University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.Design a Collection Strategy and Educate.Recycling Post-Consumer Plastic Bags and Film.Help Keep Plastic Bags Out of Our Environment.Opportunities to Recycle Plastic Film in Schools.
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