Recycling Plastic Grocery Bags Facts

Around 4 million tons of plastic bags sacks and wraps were produced in 2008 worldwide 90 were discarded.

Recycling plastic grocery bags facts.

The numbers are better in the united states where epa estimates around 12 of plastic bags are recycled. The facts about plastic bags. Thank you for recycling your plastic bags and wraps. That means that the average family only recycles 15 bags a year.

267 different species of animals have been affected by marine debris. Up to 80 percent of ocean plastic pollution enters the ocean from land. Instead plastic bags and wraps can be taken to recycling bins in front of more than 20 000 u s. They actually go through a process called photodegradation breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic particles that contaminate both soil and water and end up entering the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them.

Grocery and retail stores. We know this isn t specifically about plastic bags but 90 of marine debris is one kind of plastic or another. Covid 19 and plastic film recycling note. In fact less than 3 of plastic bags are recycled worldwide.

Once discarded plastic bags will remain in the environment for 1 000 years before they decompose. The recycling rate of pet bottles and jars was 29 1 percent in 2017 and the rate for hdpe natural bottles was 31 2 percent in 2017. Plastic bags are not biodegradable. Plastic bags wraps typically do not get recycled in curbside bins.

At least 267 different species have been affected by plastic pollution in the ocean. The rest end up in landfills or as litter. Recyclable affordable and convenient plastic bags are 100 recyclable reusable made from natural gas not oil and a sustainable choice for consumers communities and businesses. This includes bags for groceries bread food storage even the sealable ones and dry cleaning plus shipping pillows and wraps for beverage cases and more.

In fact the list doesn t end there. Plastic bags like those used for bread newspapers and as cereal box liners as well as sandwich bags dry cleaning bags and grocery bags create similar problems for recycling machinery as thin. What do bubble wrap plastic overwrap around paper towels cereal box liners and bread bags all have in common. According to waste management only 1 percent of plastic bags are returned for recycling.

While overall the amount of recycled plastics is relatively small 3 0 million tons for a 8 4 percent recycling rate in 2017 the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. Dry cleaning bags produce bags newspaper sleeves plastic shipping envelopes clean sandwich bags so many things which not too many years ago would have been tossed in the garbage are now able to be turned into. They must be returned to participating drop off locations such as retail stores for recycling.