How to Recycle Old Plastic Bags

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 28, 2022 References Approved

You use plastic bags every day to carry groceries home or to hold items you have purchased at the store. Plastic bags are not biodegradable, which means it will take hundreds of years for them to decompose. Recycling old plastic bags will ensure they are used again in other products and do not pollute the environment. You can recycle plastic bags by giving them to a local recycling center. You can use reuse them at home or make crafts with them so they do not end up in a landfill.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

How to Give the Plastic Bags to a Recycling Center

1
Remove receipts, gum, and other debris in the plastic bags. Check that all the bags are free of debris. Shake them out to confirm they are empty.^{[1]
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2
Confirm the bags have a #2 or #4 plastic symbol on them. The symbol should be printed on the front or bottom of the plastic bag. This confirms the bag is made of recycled material.^{[2]
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- If there is no #2 or #4 symbol, the plastic bag may not be recyclable. If this is the case, you can reuse the bag in other ways around the house.
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3
Collect the bags in one large garbage bag. Aim to fit 50 to 100 plastic bags in the garbage bag. Press the plastic bags down to remove any air in them so you can fit lots of plastic bags in the garbage bag. Collecting the bags in one place will make it easier for you to transport them.^{[3]
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4
Bring them to a bag collection bin. Most national grocery retailers, such as Safeway, Target, and Walmart, will have a bag collection bin in the store. The bins are usually at the front entrance of the store, labeled “bag recycling.” Put the plastic bags in the collection bin to be recycled.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

How to Reuse the Plastic Bags at Home

1
Line your garbage bins with the plastic bags. One way you can reuse plastic bags at home is to use them as liners to protect your garbage bins. Cut up the plastic bags and tape them to the bottom of your garbage bins at home to prevent any liquids from leaking into the can from the garbage.^{[5]
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- You can also use plastic bags to line any other bins in your home that tend to get wet, such as recycling bins or the compost bin.
2
Use them as garbage bags around the house. You can also use plastic bags in mini garbage bins around your home. Use a plastic bag in a bathroom or bedroom bin. When it comes time to empty the garbage, you can simply pull the plastic bag out and replace it with a new one.
- You can also use plastic bags as garbage bags in your car.
3
Reuse them as grocery bags. Store the plastic bags in your car and bring them with you to the grocery store. Then, use them to bag your groceries. Make sure the plastic bags do not have any holes in them and are thick enough to hold items.^{[6]
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4
Wrap delicate items in the plastic bags. Plastic bags are also great for protecting delicate items, such as glass figurines or family heirlooms. Wrap delicate items in the plastic bags before storing them away in your home.
- You can also use the plastic bags to wrap delicate items for when you are moving. Plastic bags provide good cushioning, especially if you layer them on top of each other.
5
Use plastic bags to cover areas that get messy in your home. Cut up plastic bags and tape them down on tables or countertops to protect them. This may be a good idea if you are doing crafts at home and want to protect the area. You can also use plastic bags to cover countertops when you are cooking.^{[7]
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6
Fill pillowcases with the plastic bags. Use the plastic bags as stuffing for pillowcases, rather than buy stuffing from the store. Ball them up and stuff them in pillowcases to keep them fluffy.^{[8]
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- You can also make a dog bed by stuffing plastic bags in a large pillowcase.
7
Store the plastic bags properly. If you are going to be keeping a lot of plastic bags in your home for various uses, make sure you store them properly to avoid mess and to ensure they are not a hazard for children or pets. You can use a plastic bag tube to store the bags. You can also hang a garbage bag in your pantry and store the plastic bags in it.
- Keep the plastic bags somewhere handy, such as in your kitchen or your garage, so they are easy to access when you need them.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

How to Craft with the Plastic Bags

1
Create yarn out of the plastic bags. Plastic yarn, known as “plarn,” is a good option for crochet or knitting. Simply cut plastic bags into strips and string them together to create a long strand of plarn. You can then use plarn to crochet tote bags, purses, and mats.
- This may be a good craft to do when you have a lot of plastic bags in the same colors. You can then create plarn from plastic bags that are the same color to use in crochet or knitting.
2
Make a woven plastic basket. You can use thick, opaque bags for a thicker woven basket or thinner, white bags for a thinner basket. You will also need sewing needles, thread, and a thimble.^{[9]
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- You will need about 30 to 40 plastic bags to create the woven basket.
3
Create a plastic flower. If you want to create flowers that are indestructible, try making flowers out of plastic bags. Use plastic bags in pretty colors for the flowers. You will also need green string, scissors, a sewing needle, and a knitting needle.^{[10]
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- One plastic bag should be enough to make one plastic flower.

Community Q&A

Question

Do grocery stores have a drop off for recycling?

Community Answer

Most grocery stores and Walmarts have a large box for bags inside the front doors near the carts. Another great idea is to braid then into rag rugs, great for outdoor use.
Question

How can I recycle aluminium cans?

Community Answer

Aluminum cans go to a recycling center. There are also a lot of crafts that you can do in order to recycle them in a creative way.
Question

Can I reuse old plastic bags?

Community Answer

You can reuse old plastic bags until they start falling apart.