Recycling Plastic Bags

[Luke_Porter]

I thought I heard on TV that plastic bags can't be recycled, is that true?

[Gonzo42]

Allworth, I sure understand the bags twisting into machinery. I got one wrapped around the U-joint of my Pontiac once and it took me two hours to remove it all. What a PITA.

[Fizz]

2gypsies wrote:
Kind of off topic but if you use the reusable cloth bags for your groceries, do you have separate ones for meats, produce, canned goods? Do you wash them? I think of this when we buy meats and the meat pkg. drips blood...just wondering.

Plastic bags of one type or another will always be available.
We keep the better ones and use them for meat in the re-usable cloth bags.
Yes we do wash the bags.

NEVER borrow or use somebody else's for carrying food. It could have been used as a diaper bag, you never know.

[murphysranch]

There are many counties and cities in Calif that have completely banned plastic bags. Its not a big deal - we get used to bringing our our own bags to all types of stores, including Home Depot, grocery, WalMart, Kohls, Petsmart, etc.

The bill signed by the Gov here in CA starts in May 2015 and ONLY affects large grocery chains and pharmacies. So the department stores hardware stores and smaller stores won't be affected until another time.

But its no big deal - just reuse your bags; rinse them out with soapy water once in a while and store them properly. Afterall, I sure don't put my produce in my carryout bag naked - I use the plastic bags on the roll in the produce dept to package them in. I don't want them contaminated by the grocery carts!

[Allworth]

OK, Folks, one of my responsibilities at Public Works was Engineer for the Solid Waste Program.

Most (reread that: MOST) recycle plants cannot process the lightweight plastic bags from retail stores, newspaper deliveries, and such.

The light material gets strung out and wraps itself around the drive sprockets of the processing machinery. The entire line has to be shut down to untangle it.

A few plants are specifically set up to handle lightweight plastics (Disney World has one, for instance.) usually involving transporting stuff by forced air, rather than belts.

Also, as an interesting sidelight, most paper recyclers cannot handle shredded paper (from your home document shredder) since the bag gets ripped apart and the shreds go all over the place like itchy snow.

[2gypsies1]

Kind of off topic but if you use the reusable cloth bags for your groceries, do you have separate ones for meats, produce, canned goods? Do you wash them? I think of this when we buy meats and the meat pkg. drips blood...just wondering.

[Gonzo42]

I re-use the plastic bags for a hundred uses, but primrily for the trash cans. If I can no longer get the grocery store bags, I'm almost forced to BUY plastic bags just to throw away. So what is gained?

Governor Moonbeam did sign the bill this week, and in the middle of 2015 the plastic bags will be mostly banned in the People's Republic of California.

[nomad297]

Regarding the reusable, "green" grocery bags -- they are disgusting. My job requires that I go into about 8-10 houses every day. My job also puts me in peoples' kitchens, laundry rooms, mud rooms and basements. I see where these bags are kept, and very rarely are they hanging up and off of the ground. I can't begin to count how many I have seen laying in or beside litter boxes; or on the kitchen floor stuffed between the trash can and a cabinet; or in the mud room, mingled with the dirty shoes, etc. You can just imagine all of the nasty, filthy places people throw these things, only to pick them up before they go to the grocery store and contaminate everything they touch while they are shopping.

These bags (and many of the people who use them) are disgusting!

Bruce

[Gjac]

I use them for trash bags in the RV, and in my workshop area of my garage. Also use them for storing fish in when I camp/fish. The ones that are torn or are too small I return to the grocery store.

[nomad297]

TechWriter wrote:

2gypsies wrote:

If you have a doggie you better start saving the plastic ones.

. . . or use Mutt Mitts.

Yup. That's what I use. 100% degradable poop bags. They are worth the price.

Bruce

[littlemo]

OR you can do this!


Rag Rug

Add puppy's favorite blanket and they can get cozy!

[littlemo]

Or you can make rugs with them. Great padding for the puppy with his favorite "banky" on top!

[mlts22]

I use them to line the toilet when my rig is winterized, I keep a good amount of plastic bags. It isn't pretty, but it is a sanitary way to be able to have a bathroom when boondocking in 20 degree temperatures with a rig that has absolutely zero bottom insulation.

[TechWriter]

2gypsies wrote:

If you have a doggie you better start saving the plastic ones.

. . . or use Mutt Mitts.

[D_E_Bishop]

Plastic bags will fall apart under UV light but not bio degrade, some plastics are made into new water bottles. Look at Arrowhead bottles, it says reborn on the label which is not made from recycled plastic.