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|  Plastic Bag Recycling
Plastic bags are being targeted for recycling since film plastic comprises about 7.5% of New York City's residential waste stream and is mostly comprised of plastic bags. Plastic bags specifically, comprise about 2.87% of New York City’s residential waste stream, which is the largest source of plastic in NYC's waste (See What's in NYC's Waste). The system of returning plastic bags to a retail location is preferable to collecting plastic bags as part of the DSNY mixed recycling collection because it ensures the clean stream that is required to effectively recycle plastic bags and film. If bags were mixed together with beverage cartons, bottles, cans, metal & foil, they would be contaminated by the organic matter that's often present in that stream. Types of plastic bags to recycle The New York State Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Act requires certain retail stores in NYC to accept plastic carryout bags. Other types of plastic bags, such as plastic dry cleaning bags and plastic newspaper delivery bags, are also accepted at many retailers, although not required.
Where to recycle discard plastic bags
If a store refuses to accept your plastic bags, the NYS DEC (not the NYC Department of Sanitation) is responsible for enforcing New York State's plastic bag recycling law. For more information, go to Report an Environmental Problem on the NYS DEC website, or contact DEC law enforcement for Region 2. Legal requirements
NOTE ABOUT NEW YORK STATE'S PLASTIC BAG RECYCLING LAW: On December 13, 2008, Governor Paterson signed New York State's Plastic Bag Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Act (Assembly Bill A11725/ Senate Bill 8643-A). This law requires larger retail and chain stores to accept clean plastic bags for recycling starting January 2009 and supersedes NYC's plastic bag recycling law. The New York State Legislature is expected to amend the state law to incorporate some of the elements of NYC’s law, although there is no timetable on this amendment. Until such amendment occurs, NYC's Plastic Bag Recycling Law is no longer in effect. Visit the NY State DEC for more information on the law. |  | |||
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