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The self-help recycling centers in Madison, WI, accept film plastic. Rhode Island has a very comprehensive program where grocery stores and other retailers put out bright blue collection boxes at their locations.Īnother possibility is your local recycling center. You are much more likely to find a film recycling program at local retailers. They ask homeowners to stuff all their plastic bags in one bag and tie it to keep individual pieces from escaping. Glendale, CA, and San Antonio, TX, are rare examples of cities that take them at the curb. That is not always the case, however, so make sure you understand the guidelines set by your local program.Ĭurbside programs that accept dry-cleaning bags and other types of film plastic are few and far between. In most cases, dry-cleaning bags can be recycled with other types of film, including plastic grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap and the small bags that protect your newspaper from the elements. So far, eight companies (totaling more than 50 locations) have signed up for the service. In Austin, TX, a company called Cycled Plastics has teamed up with dry cleaners and will pick up any unwanted bags from them. Many companies will keep unwanted bags at their shop for reuse and recycling.
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How do I recycle dry-cleaning bags?The first person you should ask about recycling dry-cleaning bags is the source: your dry cleaner.
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Finding ways to responsibly recycle film plastic is a big win for both the environment and recycling companies. If that plastic finds its way into the ocean, marine life can get tangled in it and birds can eat it, mistaking it for food. Film plastic can get caught in recycling machinery, damaging equipment and causing down time at recycling centers. The wind catches them easily, so they have a tendency to escape trashcans or piles and create litter on highways and in transfer stations. In addition, dry-cleaning bags and other types of film plastic are a real nuisance in the waste stream. The bags contain numerous toxic chemicals, including dioxins, which are released if the plastic is incinerated.
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Plastic is a petroleum-based product, so recycling it cuts down on petroleum use. There are many other reasons to keep dry-cleaning bags out of your garbage can. Americans go through more than 300 million pounds of dry-cleaning bags every year, and even though those bags are small, they still take up a lot of space. That means they will sit in landfills forever. Why should I recycle dry-cleaning bags?Dry-cleaning bags, like anything else made of plastic, are not biodegradable. Besides turning old bags into new ones, both types of plastic can easily be recycled into lumber, tile and a number of other consumer products. High-density polyethylene (or HDPE, which corresponds to the recycling #2) is used for many other types of film, including plastic shopping and trash bags. This particular type of thin, clear plastic is known as “film” in the recycling industry. What are dry-cleaning bags made of?Dry-cleaning bags are made with low-density polyethylene (or LDPE, which corresponds to the recycling #4). Here is our advice on where to look for dry-cleaning bag recycling centers - and a few ideas for reducing the number of plastic bags you bring home. Plastic bags are typically not recycled at the curb, but the nearest recycling center could be as close as your local grocery store. The question is how much of a hassle it is to get that plastic to a recycler. Most plastic bags (including dry-cleaning bags) are recyclable. What are you supposed to do with that plastic sheet once you your clothes arrive home? And, if you are a dedicated recycler or environmentalist, that probably bothers you a little. Every time you go to the dry cleaner, your clothes come back to you wrapped in a huge swath of plastic.