Plastic Bags

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Plastic bags are not recyclable in City of Fort Lauderdale residential carts, nor in public space containers. However, there are options for reducing plastic waste and recycling bags. With a little effort, plastic bags, film and wrap can be turned into materials such as composite lumber.

What is considered a plastic bag?

This category of waste includes the following items which look or feel like plastic bags:

Plastic Item	Commonly Used or Found In
Single use bags of any size and type	From snack or sandwich-sized up to those used as trash can liners
Plastic shopping bags of any size or type	Including those commonly distributed at supermarkets and also heavier varieties
Clothing covers	Used by dry cleaners and retail stores
Plastic film	Used for food wrap, and anything with a similar look or feel
Plastic shipping materials	Bubble wrap and inflatable inserts and padding
Shipping or packaging bags	Used for newspaper delivery, produce purchase, and pet waste. Found around prepared breads.
Sealed plastic film packaging	Containing food, toys, cosmetics, office supplies, and other products
Plastic bag inserts	Such as that used inside cereal boxes
Plastic covers	From books, report bindings, spiral notebooks
Photographic film	X-rays, 35mm camera film, and similar

How can plastic bags be recycled?

There are several ways to reduce the waste associated with plastic bags and similar items.

The best way to reduce this waste it to eliminate it. Bring your own bags when you shop. Pack waste free lunches. Choose products distributed in minimal or recyclable packaging.
Speak up at check-out. When you must use a plastic bag, ask your cashier or bagger to fill bags completely, not to double bag, and to skip bags for large items that can be carried as is.
Re-use bags. The beauty of plastic is that with quick removal or a light rinse it stays relatively clean. Try to re-use bags many times over.
Recycle when you can. Most supermarkets and big box stores participate in bulk recycling programs for bags. Simply bundle your baggies and bags of any size, bring them back to the store, and deposit in specially marked containers which are usually just outside or inside the store entrance.
Donate your bags.
- Animal rescue agencies will often accept small bags (such as those from newspapers and produce) to be used for pet waste clean-up.
- Consignment shops and charity stores will often accept bags. Your donation cuts their operating expenses.

Why are they not recyclable in Fort Lauderdale's containers?

Plastic bags must be separated from the general recycling stream in order to be processed. Because of their light weight, flexibility and fragility, there is no easy way to automate this separation. It is labor intensive when the bags are mixed with other recyclables, which makes it expensive and not feasible for the processor. The bags also tend to get stuck inside the automated beltways used in recycling facilities. This slows or stops intake, and could lead to costly repairs. Therefore, in a general recycling materials recovery facility, plastic bags are usually considered contamination. This is the case in Fort Lauderdale.

Learn More

Earth911 Logo Use Earth911's comprehensive information on How to Recycle Plastic Bags to explore fact sheets on plastic bag, film and wrap recycling. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find drop locations and recycling centers for all types of bags. You can also link to plasticbagfacts.org from there.

Explore the American chemistry Council's plasticfilmrecycling.org website. This is a new venture with information for businesses and consumers. Keep an eye on their recycling center drop off directory. Businesses can sign up to participate and use their downloadable posters and other materials to advertise themselves as recycling drop locations.

Bring your own bag...or one of ours. Stop by our booth at major events. We often distribute Green Your Routine shopping bags.

Please do not place plastic bags in any city recycling container. Do not use plastic bags to hold recyclables, nor to line your recycling cart.

Bundle your bags and bring them back to the store for bulk recycling.

Paper vs. plastic? It depends on you! Plastic bags can be as sustainable as paper, and vice versa. Plastic shopping bags, such as those used by supermarkets, require 70% less energy to manufacture than the average paper market bag, and produce half the greenhouse gas emissions. In the U.S., about 85% are domestically made of natural gas, and are not petroleum based. But they don't biodegrade quickly, so if you don't recycle them, they cause environmental problems. Other plastic film and wrap products may not have these same attributes. So with paper or plastic, less is more!