Section 3.3

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Since plastic film and bag recycling is relatively new, education is key. Please consider the following so that we can increase awareness about bag recycling.


Feel free to add a link on your recycling web site to www.plasticbagrecycling.org to let others know how and where to recycle plastic bags and film. Include information about plastic bag recycling in your community outreach efforts. If you have a recycling guide or mailer, include this web site address (www.plasticbagrecycling.org) so that residents and businesses can learn more about plastic bag and film recycling. Offering rewards or positive media about businesses that recycle is a constructive way to encourage other businesses to participate in recycling efforts. Be prepared to explain what happens to plastic bags after they are collected. There are a variety of manufacturers in the US who use plastic bags as feedstock in products such as composite lumber, containers, pallets, and new film applications. Major end users such as Trex [http://www.trex.com/Universal/faq.asp#topnav] and AERT [http://www.choicedek.com/faq.asp] have information you can use to educate residents about what happens to recycled plastic bags and film such as stretch wrap. If recycling centers in your jurisdiction accept plastic bags or film at drop off centers, add their information to our directory—please! Also let us know of retail stores we should add to our list of stores that accept plastic bags for recycling from customers. Click here to add a retail store. Coordinate educational efforts with local retail stores. Many stores now accept plastic bags for recycling, which is a convenient and efficient way for the general public to recycle plastic bags. Retail stores are also en excellent venue to increase awareness about the option to recycle bags. Go to www.progressivebagalliance.com to download a retail store bag recycling toolkit.

Check back for more promotional material. We are developing graphics
and strategies for retail stores to use in promoting bag recycling.

Recycling of plastic bags and polyethylene (PE) film is not available everywhere; however, many retail stores and some municipal drop-offs in the United States collect plastic bags and polyethylene film for recycling. This web site provides the public, municipalities and businesses a means to identify retail stores and recovery facilities that collect plastic bags and film for recycling.