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Good Question: Recycling Plastic Bags?

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Amanda emailed us with this question: Does anyone know where, in the nyc area (and brooklyn) one can turn in plastic bags for recycling? There used to be a bin at the Food Emporium on Union Square but it was taken away.

 
 

Because we live in California, we thought we'd toss this out to our NYC readers. Can anyone help Amanda?

On a related note, we recently noticed a plastic bag recycling bin at our local Longs Drugs (Berkeley, Ca).

Which raises an interesting question: Where else have you seen places to recycle plastic bags? Are they out there?

Image: Via Kables @ flickr.com

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Comments (23)

The Park Slope Food Coop takes bags, though you have to show up at one of their special recycling days. Here's some info from their site:

Most plastics that NYC does NOT accept can be recycled at the Coop.

Bring clean, dry plastic to the Coop's sidewalk during monthly recycling hours. We close up promptly. So, the final drop offs will be accepted 10 minutes prior to our end time to allow for sorting:

2nd Sat., noon-2 PM
3rd Thur., 7 PM-9 PM
Last Sun., 10 AM-noon.

We accept...

* #1 & # 2 (where mouth is wide or wider than the body, meaning NOT bottles) plastics
* #4 plastics
* #5 plastic tubs, cups & specifically marked lids and caps (discard any with paper labels)
* Plastic film

http://foodcoop.com/go.php?page=readmore&nugget=7&PHPSESSID=55b934378cddd297d9bb028bee0eaee2

posted by Eliza on 2007-09-12 14:15:24
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Someone said recently that Whole Foods takes them.

posted by jblue on 2007-09-12 14:30:11
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If they are plastic grocery bags (or a similar size), you might try your local food bank, especially smaller less-well-funded ones. Places that give away food often need bags to put it in.

posted by Jeri Dansky on 2007-09-12 14:40:43
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Whole Foods usually has bins for recycling plastic bags, though I actually collect them from the neighbors and use them to pick up after my doggies. It's not as pleasant a fate for the bags, but still counts as reuse!

posted by SisterRae on 2007-09-12 16:36:27
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In SF, I know some safeways take them, and in Emeryville, Ikea does too. Where else in SF have you seen plastic bag recycling?

posted by Shannon in SF on 2007-09-12 16:44:28
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I saw a DIY someplace on the internet, that has you take plastic bags, do some sort of ironing tricks, and it makes a fabric that you can make a wallet, etc, out of. Just google Plastic Bag Craft or Plastic Bag Fabric.

Here's some examples:

http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html
http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-overdue-fusing-plastic-bag.html

posted by jillian1977 on 2007-09-12 17:12:06
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I know here in WI, I've seen that Wal-Marts collect them too.

posted by Thats Swell on 2007-09-12 17:21:53
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In California, I know Ralphs and Vons both have recycling bins for plastic bags. They're usually located in the front.

posted by Susan Y on 2007-09-12 23:34:43
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I wonder about the Food Emporium plastic bag drop. It's located right next to the bottle deposit and I think (because I hate FE) that they probably just throw all those bags in the garbage. FE has no problem using multiple plastic bags for every purchase you make, no matter how small or light weight. Everything goes in a minimum of 2 plastic bags. I just don't see them as "green" conscience.

posted by anne on 2007-09-13 14:10:01
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In NYC, the Whole Foods in Union Square has a small recycling kiosk at the exit. Aside from the usual bottles and cans, they take plastic bags, along with batteries. I'm not sure about the new Bowery store, but I'm pretty sure the Columbus Circle one doesn't have the kiosk.

posted by twotwenty on 2007-09-13 15:20:21
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There is a container to stuff used plastic bags in at the Gourmet Garage on 7th Ave in the West Village too.

posted by kkf on 2007-09-14 13:32:33
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Eliza, Amanda and anyone else in Brooklyn,
I have a published iCal of the Coop's recycling schedule -- it's three different days, three times a month, and I find it otherwise impossible to know when -- email me at guidoo at mac dot com if you want to subscribe and I'll send you the link.

It takes place outside the coop, and you don't have to be a member. It's very heartening to see how many people bring their cleaned yogurt containers for recycling!

jillian, that's intriguing . . . thx!

posted by guido on 2007-09-15 10:10:33
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Adding on to SisterRae's comment, a lot of NY dog runs have containers near the entrances where you can put bags, and they get used up very quickly!

posted by shebear on 2007-09-18 16:55:44
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give them to your friends with dogs. We are forever running out of bags for our furry friend's walks about the city.

posted by mariah on 2007-09-18 18:29:33
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here's my example of the fusing plastic bags...

http://aestheticonion.blogspot.com/2007/08/fused-plastic-lunchbag.html

posted by the aesthetic onion on 2007-09-18 19:16:43
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At the Whole Foods in White Plains, there's a container for them. They also give you 5¢ off your purchase for each bag you bring and reuse. I have a fabric holder for reusing them for kitty litter etc.

posted by bip0larbear on 2007-09-18 20:11:31
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I always wanted to use them as trash liners but my trashcan was too big. I like this plastic bag trash can/holder.

http://www.organizedliving.com/product/kitchen/trash cans/door mount-in cabinet/simplehuman cabinet mount trash system.do

posted by Mare on 2007-09-18 20:34:44
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I use them for trash, especially in bedroom and bathroom. I also use them for toting shoes so the rest of the stuff in my tote bag doesn't get dirty.

You can also use them as packing material if you're shipping a small breakable object or anything you don't want getting jostled around.

posted by swbird on 2007-09-18 21:51:22
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nearly every major supermarket in my area takes them because they are then sold to recyclers for a profit.

posted by gathering browse on 2007-09-19 01:16:20
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All of the supermarkets in my area (eastern Mass.) have plastic bag recycling bins. They usually place them near the bottle/can redemption machines.

posted by Maureen on 2007-09-19 06:20:36
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I agree with the trashcan line comments. I don't know why anyone would need to recycle them if they use them as liners (and shoe bags, which I do as well).

posted by spanishfish on 2007-09-19 07:27:23
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Recycling plastic shopping bags isn't an issue if you don't cycle them in the first place. Go to a site like reusablebags.com and buy reusable bags. If you want to feel really smug, buy reusable bags made from recycled materials.

posted by tonepome on 2007-09-19 08:56:16
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Not applicable in this situation but http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn12141-giant-microwave-turns-plastic-back-to-oil.html is about a company who made this thing similar to a microwave that can turn plastic and rubber back into diesel oil and combustable gas. Eventually maybe there will be a recycling sent to these type deal.

posted by Bas on 2007-09-19 09:19:23
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