Authors: Alyssa Armstrong and Keri Greenwalt

This U.S. Recycling Day, November 15th, we are dealing with the problematic plastic film. Did you know that flexible plastics (such as disposable bags, plastic packaging, and shrink wrap) cannot be recycled in your blue shopping cart? These "entanglers" are made of flexible, elastic materials and are wrapped in the gears of the machine in the recycling facility and shut down the system. You can still recycle these items by sending them to participating locations for recycling.

To celebrate U.S. Recycling Day, several of our dedicated zero-waste zone leaders are organizing community plastic film collection activities across the city. Find favorite events near you on our events page or send us an email.

For those who are unable to participate in the plastic film recycling activities, the Recycling and Recycling Center accepts this material and is open all year round, only by appointment. Plastic film can also be discarded at another participating location for recycling.

Although efforts to keep plastic out of the waste stream are an important part of improving our local and global environment, simple replacement at home to avoid the use of single-use plastic is the most sustainable solution. Try these exchanges:

As part of the U.S. Plastics Convention, the City of Austin is committed to educating the community about plastic films. Learn more about Austin plastic recycling and what you can do to make a difference.

The Road to Zero Waste contains tips, how-tos, stories, news, and inspiring ideas about rethinking waste. Follow our blog to learn how to change the status quo and help Austin achieve its zero waste goal by 2040. Together, we can help Austin remain peculiar, environmentally friendly and beautiful.