Why plastic bags?
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, and cans, the organic material contained on those recyclables would contaminate the bags.
