Are plastic bags destroyed when recyled?

Plastic bags take a lot of energy and oil to make so why waste them by creating bags that self-destruct? "It is an economic and environmental nonsense to destroy this value," the recyclers' trade association concluded. read more

If a plastic bag makes it to a sorting centre, and slips its way down the sorting line and into the machine that chews up the materials, it will be destroyed. However, it also has the potential to destroy the machine. read more

It’s not that used plastic bags, wraps and film can’t be recycled into new materials – they simply require a different collection system and processing equipment than many curbside recycling programs provide. read more

Plastic bags, as common as they are, are still not as widely recycled as other forms of plastic. According to the EPA, only 12 percent of the category of plastics that includes bags, sacks, and wraps ended up getting recycled in 2012. read more

Most plastic bags are made of #2 or #4 plastic. If you are looking to recycle plastic bags you can use our recycling locator to find a location near you. Most plastic bags are made of #2 or #4 plastic. read more