No Bags – Q&A

Since plastic bags and film were removed from the single stream in June, we have seen a slight decrease in the amount coming in. However, there’s still enough to cause issues and lots of confusion surrounding the ban.

Why Were Bags Removed?

• Due to low market conditions, end-users who make recycled products are no longer taking bags and film from mixed recycling programs, only from “clean” separated sources like retail drop-off locations.
• This has left mixed recycling facilities like Millennium in a tough spot – having to work with the many private haulers in our area and educate the public to stop putting bags in the bin.
• Previously, the issues created by bags were worth it to be able to recycle the material. Now that they are no longer able to “move” (or be sent to end-users), it makes no sense to invest all of the time, effort and money it takes to sort bags out if ultimately the only place they can go is the landfill – hence the public push to remove bags from the recycling bin.

What is “Plastic Film”?

• Plastic film is the industry term for all plastic bag, wrap and film material.
• Examples include bread bags, grocery bags, trash bags, bubble wrap, air pillows, saran wrap, case wrap, etc – see more examples here.

What’s the issue with Bags?

• With nowhere to send the plastic bags from mixed recycling, all of it received at Millennium is manually pulled out, baled up, stored, and then sent to the landfill.
• This results in more material going to the landfill, higher trash fees for Millennium, and higher contamination fees for waste haulers when we have to work to pull bags out of the loads.
• Six full-time employees are still required to pull bags off the line (the same amount as before the ban).
• Stress on the equipment caused by loose film and bags wrapping around the system continues.
• Excess time and maintenance required to pull bags out or cut them loose from equipment continues.

How was this a responsible decision?

• Making tough decisions about materials we accept is part of our business. Removing an item does NOT happen often (bags are the first material in YEARS that has been removed).
• Items we collect are solely based on market need and the ability to move materials to our end-users. When we decided to accept bags in the past, we were one of VERY FEW in the entire country who made the extra effort to include them in the mixed recycling. We felt strongly that if they could be recycled, we wanted to make it easy for people to recycle them.
• When there is no need for an item we collect, our only option is to store it or send it the landfill.  Unfortunately, the market need for bags has dropped drastically in recent years and we do not expect it to rebound.
• We are at capacity with the amount of bags we are storing and with the amount that is still coming in, we’ve had to start sending bags to the landfill.
• To reduce the amount going to the landfill (and help your waste hauler and private recyclers out), public understanding and participation is vital.

What about Shredded Paper in bags?

Shredded paper is the ONLY exception to the no plastic bags rule. You can still use plastic bags for shredded paper and tightly tie it shut to give us a chance to collect it all. We will pull it out, rip it open to sort out the shredded paper, and dispose of the plastic bag.

You can find more info on what you can include in the bin with each category here.

Is this for all Waste Haulers?

• The No Bags rule applies to all waste haulers who deliver recycling to Millennium. Find a list here to see if this includes your hauler.
• If your hauler is not on the list or has communicated something different, please check with them how they prefer recyclables. Some rural and smaller waste haulers still want material bagged so they can transport it between trucks.
• If any bags or bagged material is delivered to Millennium, it is treated as a contaminant and fees may apply to cover the cost of labor, handling, transportation, and trash fees.

What can you do?

• If you haven’t already, stop putting plastic bags, wrap and film in your recycling bin.
• Bring your plastic bag or film waste to drop-off locations who can still accept them.
• Reduce the amount of bags you’re using by avoiding products with excessive film packaging and/or bringing your own bag to the store (#byob).
• Spread the word with your friends and family that bags are no longer allowed in the recycling bin!

At Millennium, we sincerely appreciate the support of the community and the avid recyclers who are trying to do the right thing. As a small, private business, we are always looking for ways to streamline our process to ensure we can provide cost-effective recycling services while supporting our ultimate goal of diverting materials from the landfill.

Now that bags are no longer able to be recycled in the single stream, we continue to work with community groups and other partners in the area to try to reduce the use of them in the first place and lessen the amount going to the landfill.

Have an idea to get the word out? Let us know!