As a "Hard to Recycle Item", Plastic Bags or Film Plastics DO NOT go into your normal recycling bin for 2 main reasons:
1. They have to be Clean, Dry, and Empty… separate from all other materials to be recycled.
2. They clog up and sometimes break the sorting equipment, making the process come to a halt to unclog and repair the sorting machines.
Here are options to keep your plastic bags out of the landfill:
CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials)
Accepts various plastic bags and #4(LDPE) plastic films
Grocery Stores
Most local grocery stores have a bin near the entrance/exit for depositing plastic shopping bags
Check with your local grocery store to see if they have a collection bin and specifics on what they accept
Labs at CU through Green Labs Program
- Various lab buildings at CU have collection points for specific film plastic
- Check the linked website for specific locations and accepted materials
FM Distribution Center
While this is NOT a public drop off, both the Facilities Management Distribution Center and Housing Maintenance facilities have been recycling shrink wrap from shipments that come to CU
Bales of Shrink Wrap
Shrink wrap is then baled and shipped to Petosky Plastics, where it is turned into new plastic waste bags that are made from 70% post consumer recycled content!
Petosky Plastics End Product
We buy the bags from Petosky to use in our waste bins across campus to help close the loop!
