Recycle That Bag

I've always heard about recycling plastic bags, but I never knew where I could bring them. Just recently I found my answer: Whole Foods! There are thousands of places across the country (mainly retail stores) for plastic bag recycling, but this is the first that I have found on my own. Some companies will print right on the bag that their facility recycles, so be sure to check! In 2010 the EPA reported that only 15% of plastic bags were recycled, but 90% were reused. Reusing is good, but recycling is even better. And, (as long as the bag is not reused as a trash bag) both reusing AND recycling can happen. Some resources are saying that plastic bags are actually much more efficient than paper, and since they are fully recyclable they do not have a negative environmental impact. However, this information is not good information. This information probably comes from biased plastic bag companies who do not want their industries to die and who paid a lot of money to alter peoples search results on google. Because, while they are recyclable, most plastic bags are NOT actually recycled (85% to be more precise). Instead, they end up in the environment, and UNLIKE paper bags they are not a bit biodegradable. So, while there are some good numbers out there for plastic bags, paper is still the better choice. But anyways, if you do obtain a plastic bag (I know that they are in no way fully avoidable) make sure to recycle it. The recycled plastic can be made into many useful things: new bags, low-maintenance fences and decks, and other building materials are a few examples. Including recycled materials in plastic bags greatly decreases greenhouse gas emissions and saves a significant amount of energy. So, help the plastic bag industry in reaching their goal of including recycled plastic by supplying them that material, and keep the plastic out of the environment. NOTE: in addition to recycling plastic bags, recycling bins such as this one also accepts various kinds of plastic including plastic wrap and sandwich bags. Awesome!