WHO KNEW You Can Help Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Landfill?

All plastics ultimately deteriorate into micro- and nanoplastics, tiny particles that are now ubiquitous in the environment and are incorporated into many lifeforms.  Much ongoing research has begun to document the harm that microplastics do - so the perfect strategy is not to create or use plastic.  But that’s impractical for now.

What can we do to delay the deterioration of all that stretchy plastic that makes its way into our lives?  It’s most often in the form of plastic bags, but can also be product overwrap, bubble wrap, food wrap, dry cleaning bags, mailing envelopes, and the like. 

 Putting it into the landfill (trash) is a fast path to generating microplastics. SO - DON’T!

Can it go into the single-sort recycling bin? NO! Stretchy plastic works itself into the sorting mechanism, and jams the machinery.

Fortunately, Trex (a manufacturer of plastic decking) has a very active recycling program, “Nextrex”, that uses stretchy plastic to make it into plastic decking (https://nextrex.com/view/educate). Though the decking does deteriorate over time, that process is slow.

You can direct your stretchy plastic into the Nextrex reuse project by putting it in designated pickup bins. The complete list of collection sites, by zip code, is at https://nextrex.com/view/findadropoff.  Locally, these are found at the Lebanon transfer station and at the following West Lebanon stores: Price Chopper, Hannaford, Shaw’s, and Kohl’s.  

What can you deposit there?  Plastic that deforms if you push on it with your thumb – such as plastic bags. Items can be of any color (including black), and can have paper labels attached, though it’s best if these can be removed. All deposited items must be clean, dry, and free of food residue. The complete list of items accepted is at https://nextrex.com/view/educate.

THANK YOU for helping reduce the micro- and nanoplastic that surrounds us!