Recycling Ziploc Bags

Recycling Ziploc Bags

While unloading groceries from massive shopping trip (trying to stock up for the summer), I noticed that the package of Ziploc bags offered this website on the bottom of package, under the “Environmental Facts:” www.ziploc.com/sustainability.  The pervasiveness of plastic annoys me and pushes me to obsess about how much of the potentially toxic stuff enters our home.  I am constantly trying to figure out ways to reuse plastic packaging and finding this Ziploc web address has proven to be serendipitous. 

Locally, we are able to recycle #1 and #2 plastics at the Twin Bridges Landfill.  But what of these plastic bags?  Wal*Mart in Butte accepts plastic grocery sacks for recycling.  A recycling center that processes the plastic grocery sacks will also accept clean and dry Ziploc bags, newspaper bags, dry-cleaning bags, bread and produce bags, toilet paper, napkin and paper towel wraps, plastic shipping envelopes, and all clean bags labeled #2 and #4 (according to www.ziploc.com/sustainability).  Plastic bags are not meant for Single Stream Recycling operations.  The plastic bags will gum up the complicated works of a conveyor belt-style sorter. 

Reseal-able plastic bags have many uses:  food storage for everything from snacks to freezing, and for use as dry bags for valuables when floating rivers or lakes.  Crafting centers and diaper bags can be organized with the help of these containers.  Re-use plastic bags whenever possible.  When heading out on adventures with the kids this summer, encourage each child to bring their own empty bag to fill with cool stuff they find while hiking, biking, and exploring.  Interesting looking leaves, rocks, shells, bugs and more can be brought home for further discovery.  An inexpensive magnifying glass can be found in toy and craft sections of larger stores and your little scientists can do some investigating that will help make learning fun. 

I am encouraged that a large corporation is taking positive steps.  Rinse and dry your Ziploc and other plastic sacks, stash them away in a home recycling center and then drop them at the appropriate recycling locations.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink your purchases (i.e. Buy More Locally).  Do your own research.  Share your successes at www.facebook.com/SustainablySadie.  Thanks for reading!

Twin Bits  

Garage-A-Rama is Saturday June 8^th at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Twin Bridges, 9 am to 1 pm. 

The next TBCA meeting will be Monday June 10, Noon at the RVNB in Twin Bridges.   

 Twin Bridges Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 9 am to Noon, Twin Bridges Main Street Park. 

Sheridan Farmers’ Market begins Thursday June 6^th, 4 pm to 6 pm at Sheridan’s Main Street Park. 

Floating Flotillas and Fish Fantasies will be Saturday July 27 at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Twin Bridges.