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!