How do you recycle plastic bags?

Question

My mom pretty much collects Food Lion plastic bags they put your grocerys in, well, she says we can re-use them later in life, well .... 100 some plastic bags are going to come in handy when? My question is, how do you recycle these evil little plastic bags? BECAUSE THEY ARE OVER TAKING OUR DRAWERS!!!

Answer 1

I use them everywhere! Store ****, throw out **** in, I even use them when changing oil on a car... How can you live without evil lil' plastic bags?

Answer 2

There are different types of plastic. Look at the bottom of your soda bottle, there is probably a triangle with a 2 in it. Now look on the bottom of another type of container, like tupperware. The number is different because it is a different formula of plastic. The caps on your soda bottles are even a different type of plastic than the bottle itself! Some municipalities even require that you remove all items not on their list from your recycling bin. This includes those caps and not putting your recycling out in plastic bags. One wrong item could ruin a whole batch of plastic being recycled because of the various melting points. Some grocery stores offer plastic bag recycling bins for customers. It is best to make sure there aren't receipts or other items in the bags before bringing them in. If you aren't sure if your grocery store offers this service, call their customer service desk. Tote bags have also become very popular for grocery shopping. I have a zip-up tote bag that I carry in my purse for when I go somewhere like a book store so I don't need to take a bag. Clothing stores still look at me like I have 2 heads when I say no bag, but I think it will catch up soon enough. The $1 tote bags they sell in the grocery stores are great! We only need 4 for all of our weekly groceries. We have only needed to replace 1 since we first bought them over a year ago. Some stores even offer a discount if you bring your own plastic, paper, or tote bag for your items. They are also a lot easier to carry as the heavier bags won't cut into your hands the way the plastic bags tend to do. We don't know how long it takes for a plastic bag to break down in a land fill, they are still pretty new. Please see the links below for more information and for a product that is a great substitute that I have found recently for regular trash bags. Thanks for doing your part to help the planet!

Answer 3

By now many people have explained how to reuse the bags you have accumulated, so the next step is to avoid accumulating them again. That's where canvas or net bags are the greatest. Keep a few in your car and a few by the back door so you won't forget them on the way out. They hold lots of groceries, the handles don't break, and best of all, they're reusable. You don't even have to buy them: just ask people you know if they have a canvas bag or two stashed in their closet. Canvas bags are popular premiums at conventions, etc. Also try yard sales and flea markets for inexpensive bags and Freecycle for free ones.

Answer 4

a lot of grocery stores have bins where plastic bags can be dropped off and are taken from there to recycling plants. Giant and Weis markets do it for sure. Call around to your local places!

Answer 5

Adding my voice to the "re-use" chorus. I re-use the bags whenever possible, and put out the less-than-perfect ones for our local recycling pick-up. I used to save up the good ones to give to a local health food store...but they have their own bags, now, so i guess i am in the same boat as you. I have hundreds and hundreds of them...waiting for a good purpose ... waiting ... waiting ... waiting ...

(Hey, do *you* want them? I could bring them over. Is Tuesday ok?)

Answer 6

You basically use them over and over until they tear apart. Here in California, if you take the same grocery bags to the grocery store you shop at, you get .05 cents back.

You can also use them for garbage, placing your recycling goods in them...cans, bottles, etc. You can get creative. With paper bags, you can use them for bookcovers, textbooks, or your own books.

Answer 7

Some stores even give you a few cents off your bill if you bring your own bags - reusing is good!

Some people use them as trash bags - there again, at least they're being reused.

Answer 8

I use them for lots of things. Wet clothes after swimming. Pack lunches in. I put books in um carrie um to work. I emty my cat litter in um tie um up, double bag it. I use them for trash can liners such as in the bathroom or bedroom. Oh I could go on and on. There is so many things to use them for. I admit that I do sometimes throw them out cause I keep them in the closet and enough is enough. But there is lots of things they are good for.

Answer 9

Put them in the plastics bag :)

Answer 10

stop using them. Buy a good bag and reuse it, buy it big and loud and never take a throw away bag again. Get simple it's so more cool.