Plastic Bags are Trash

It may seem counterintuitive, but plastic bags and film plastics (i.e. plastic wrapping, saran wrap and small plastic pouches) are no longer recyclable. Several years ago, residents were taught to recycle plastic with a number 3-7. However, there is no longer a market for plastic bags and film plastics mixed in with commingled recyclables. In addition to there being no market, plastic bags are also problematic for our blue mixed recycling bins because they get tangled up with other material. It is difficult to keep plastic bags free of contaminants and to pull them out of the recycling without snagging something else along with them.

Santa Barbara County residents are now being asked to place dirty plastic bags and other film plastics in the trash. Clean plastic bags should be taken back to the grocery store. Learn more at www.lessismore.org. Watch a video here.