Plastic film

What items can we take?

This category includes clean and stretchy thin plastics, primarily HDPE (#2) and LDPE (#4) plastics. In order to be properly recycled, do your best to remove any food residue and make sure it's dry.

Ziploc

Bubble wrap

Air pillows

Grocery bags

Prime shippers

Bread bags

Newspaper bags

Produce bags

Outer wrapping

Dry cleaning bags

Cereal bags

Outer packaging

Poly-bags and Tyvek mailers

What isn’t in this category?

While the category includes a ton, any hard plastic, dirty film, or anything made of mixed material isn't included (shiny metallic material too).

Firm plastic

Many cities accept hard plastic for recycling - check with your local provider!

Paper + plastic

Since these are mixed materials, they can't be easily recycled.

Bags with silver inside

Since these are mixed materials, they can't be easily recycled.

Chip bags

Since these are mixed materials, they can't be easily recycled.

Granola bar wrappers

Since these are mixed materials, they can't be easily recycled.

Squeezable food containers

Metallic bubble wrap

Since these are mixed materials, they can't be easily recycled.

Insulated bags

Since these are mixed materials, they can't be easily recycled.

Blister packs

Hard semi-flexible packaging around things like batteries and electronics.

Vinyl

Latex

Woven plastic sacks

Best to reuse these! Or throw them away if unusable.

Non-woven plastic totes

Best to reuse these! Or throw them away if damaged.

Bottle caps

These are under 3 inches and so can't be recycled curbside!

Pull caps

These are under 3 inches and so can't be recycled curbside!

Produce netting

These are made of a non-recyclable nylon

Plastic food wrap

Food bags

Six pack rings

Make sure to cut through each ring!

Potting soil, fertilizer, and bark bags

Plastic film.

Thin plastics, or plastic film, are light-weight, crunchable, flexible plastic material made from the by-products of oil refinement.

As a core category, you will have a dedicated bag for plastic film. It is one of the most impactful for reducing household waste and global pollution. With Ridwell, we can take some of the common plastic film that can't go in your curbside bin off your hands, right from your doorstep.

Why use Ridwell?

Ridwell can take all sorts of thin plastics from ziploc to grocery bags, bubble wrap to dry cleaning bags. You don't have to think about what goes where or tie it in a larger bag.

Plastics that can be recycled are first sorted, shredded, and rid of any impurities like paper. These shreds are then melted and formed into pellets, which can be made into other products.

It can also be turned into more practical things like new packaging, composite decking material, and trash can liners!

Partnering with Trex

Trex is one of the largest recyclers of plastic film in North America, using more than 400 million pounds of recycled plastics - including more than 1.5 billion plastic bags - each year to make its high-performance, wood-alternative decking. A standard 16-foot Trex deck board contains recycled materials from approximately 2,250 plastic bags, and is 95% recycled content.

“Ridwell members give us some of the highest quality plastic we receive from any partner. We are thrilled to be working with such a conscientious and passionate community.“ - Trex, Consumer Education

FAQ

What else can you take in this category?

While plastic film is everywhere, there are a few items that our partner cannot accept like 6-pack rings and food bags. Learn more here.

Do I have to remove the shipping or produce labels?

Nope! Our partner can still recycle your plastic with the labels on!

How clean and dry does it have to be?

Mold is the real enemy here! If our plastic is moldy or wet, our partner can't recycle it. So if you think there is any chance of mold, wash it with soapy water and let dry. Help us save your stuff from the landfill!