Should You Recycle Plastic Bags?

Plastic bags often pile up at home, and it's tempting to toss them into your curbside recycling¹ bin. But doing so can cause more harm than good.

Plastic bags should be recycled—but not in your curbside bin. They need to go to store drop-off locations² where they can be handled properly.

As manufacturers of plastic film bag-making machines, we understand the issue clearly. Curbside recycling facilities use machines designed for rigid materials like cans, bottles, and paper. Thin plastic bags jam these machines, wrapping around gears and rollers, forcing shutdowns and manual removal. The intention to recycle is good—but misplacing plastic bags in curbside bins creates costly and dangerous problems.

The right approach is to use retail store drop-off programs. Many major stores offer collection bins for plastic films. These materials are then sent to facilities equipped to handle them properly. Before dropping off bags, ensure they are clean, dry, and free of debris. This step improves the recyclability of the material.

Why Plastic Bags Don’t Belong in Curbside Recycling

It might seem harmless to recycle a plastic bag at home, but it can cause serious operational problems.

Plastic bags jam recycling facility equipment³, endanger workers, and contaminate other materials.

What Happens to a Plastic Bag in the Wrong Bin

1. Tipping Floor: Bags are mixed in with other recyclables.
2. Conveyor Belts: Materials move toward automated sorting.
3. Sorting Screens: Bags wrap around moving parts instead of being sorted.
4. Tangler Build-Up: Bags accumulate, forming rope-like tangles.
5. Manual Removal: Facilities shut down while workers cut out the bags.
6. Material Contamination: If a bag sneaks through, it can lower the value of clean material like paper.

The Cost of Misplaced Plastic Bags

Area	Impact	Estimated Annual Cost (Mid-Sized Facility)
Downtime	2–4 shutdowns daily, each lasting 30–60 minutes	$10,000–$25,000 per line
Labor	Workers are diverted from sorting to untangling machines	$30,000–$50,000
Equipment Wear	Tangling causes wear on gears and motors	$5,000–$15,000
Material Contamination	Contaminated bales may be rejected or devalued	Thousands per bale

Worker Safety Risks

Removing plastic from machinery involves:

• Cuts and lacerations from knives
• Falls while climbing equipment
• Caught-in hazards despite safety protocols

This is why facilities ask the public not to put bags in curbside bins. It protects both recycling workers and the recycling process itself.

Are All Plastic Bags Recyclable?

Not all plastic bags can be recycled—even at store drop-off points.

Only clean, dry HDPE (#2)⁴ or LDPE (#4)⁵ bags are accepted. Laminated, compostable, or heavily printed bags should not be recycled.

What You Can and Can’t Drop Off

Bag Type	Material	Store Drop-Off?	Preparation Needed
Retail "T-Shirt" Bags	HDPE	Yes	Clean and dry
Produce Bags	LDPE	Yes	Remove food particles
Bread Bags	LDPE	Yes	Shake out crumbs
Dry Cleaning Bags	LDPE	Yes	Remove receipts and hangers
Newspaper Bags	LDPE	Yes	Keep clean and dry
Food Storage (e.g. Ziploc)	LDPE	Yes	No food or oil residue
Chip Bags / Snack Packaging	Multi-layer	No	Trash only
Frozen Food Bags	Laminated	No	Trash only
Salad Bags	Mixed Plastic	No	Trash only
Compostable Bags	PLA, PHA	No	Compost in industrial facility only

Why Some Bags Can’t Be Recycled

Laminated and multi-layer films are hard to separate and melt. A chip bag might have several fused layers (plastic, foil, ink), each with different properties. There's no practical way to recycle these cost-effectively.

Bags made from a single material—mono-materials⁶—are preferred. Our machines are designed to work with HDPE and LDPE films, making it easier for recyclers to process the final products.

How Manufacturing Can Support Recycling

Recycling doesn’t start at the bin—it starts with how a bag is made.

Bag manufacturers can support recycling by using mono-materials, minimizing inks and labels, and building thinner but durable films.

Manufacturing with Recycling in Mind

BagMec® equipment is built for recyclability:

• Mono-material compatibility: Our machines, like the FFS Bag Machine, run high-purity polyethylene films.
• Minimal contamination: We recommend limiting full-surface printing and additives.

Technologies That Improve Sustainability

Technology	Sustainability Benefit
Smart Tension Control	Enables use of thinner films—reduces plastic use by up to 15%
Energy-Saving Servo Motors	Reduces power consumption by up to 30%
Recycled Material Compatibility	Machines are calibrated to run film made with recycled LDPE/HDPE
Compostable Film Support	Capable of processing biodegradable films7 like PLA without compromising efficiency

Real-World Example

A European retailer upgraded to our Loop Handle Bag Machines⁸. With better tension control and motors:

• Ran 30% recycled HDPE content
• Reduced production waste by 18%
• Produced bags compatible with store drop-off recycling

What Recycled Plastic Bags Become

When recycled correctly, plastic bags are turned into durable products.

Most commonly, they are made into composite lumber⁹, new plastic bags, and industrial or automotive components.

Recycling Process

1. Shredding: Bags are cut into flakes.
2. Washing: Removes dirt and labels.
3. Drying: Flakes are dried thoroughly.
4. Melting: Flakes are melted and extruded.
5. Pelletizing: Melted plastic is cut into pellets.

These pellets are sold as raw material to manufacturers.

Common Products Made from Recycled Bags

Product Type	Examples	Why It Works
Building Materials	Decking, fencing, benches	Weather-resistant, long-lasting
New Plastic Bags	Garbage bags, shopping bags	Supports a closed recycling loop
Industrial Goods	Pipes, crates, pallets	Durable and low-cost
Automotive Parts	Trim, insulation, bumpers	Lightweight and moldable

Summary

Recycling plastic bags the right way matters. Don’t put them in your curbside bin. Use designated store drop-offs, and always make sure bags are clean and dry.

Manufacturers also play a role. By producing recyclable, mono-material bags and using machines optimized for sustainability, we can improve outcomes across the recycling system.

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