WHO KNEW Upper Valley Businesses Are Helping with the Problem of Plastics?

Recycling plastic wraps is a challenge, and several local businesses have been helping direct many kinds of wrap to places that can reprocess them into something else. The difference? The texture of the wrap.

Hannaford’s in West Lebanon works with Trex (the company that makes patio decking) to recycle stretchy plastic wrap, including their own (and other stores’) plastic shopping bags. Also in the big recycling bin just inside the entrance they accept produce bags, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning bags, and product wraps like the plastic around paper towels, toilet paper, and six-packs of bottled water. Ziplock bags are OK too, but they must be free from all food residue. Hannaford’s will accept, as well, shipping products like bubble wrap, air pillows, and plastic mailing envelopes with stickers removed. Please note that wrapping from frozen food doesn’t qualify for Hannaford’s recycling bin. A simple test will help you sort out what’s OK to deposit there: If it crinkles loudly when you crush it, leave it out. Please check Hannaford’s website for more detailed information. Also check a website called “how2recycle.info" for more guidance.

According to bagandfilmrecycling.org (the link posted on the companies' websites) Price Chopper and Shaws grocery stores are also collecting non-crinkly plastic wraps and bags as is clothing and household retailer Kohl's in West Lebanon. Again, check the bagandfilmrecycling.org website for specifics.

There is another local business that accepts other kinds of plastic packaging. White River Subaru will recycle one of life’s guilty pleasures: K-cups that let you brew a cup of coffee almost immediately. I’ve switched to reusable metal pods, so now my visits to White River Subaru involve those harder to recycle crinkly plastic wraps: potato chip bags, bags containing frozen veggies and fruits, and the wrap inside boxes of things like Eggo waffles. You can deliver whatever you’ve collected to the dealership, and one of the office staff members will gladly take it off your hands. The plastic goes to TerraCycle, which converts it into items like outdoor furniture.

PLEASE NOTE: Pre-packaged salad kit bags should NOT go in with generic produce bags. I guess they're not stretchy enough. They should be recycled with the Subaru stuff.

Caveat: At this point you still have to throw away that increasingly common plastic wrap that’s lined with aluminum, such as the packaging of some chips, snacks, and energy bars. Recycling this kind of wrap is difficult, but a few food brands say they are working on making packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable in the near future.