Plastic Bags? Keep Them Out of Yakima Recycle Bins

With all the talk about how bad plastic bags are for the environment, state officials say they can't be recycled by curbside services.

THE BAGS DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MACHINERY

In fact, recyclers in the state say plastic bags are one of the largest sources of contamination in Washington’s residential recycling stream. Officials from the Washington Department of Ecology say the bags can clog recycling machinery, contaminate other recyclable materials, and lead to more potentially recyclable material ending up in the landfill.

DO YOU PAY FOR CURBSIDE RECYCLING IN YAKIMA?

How big a problem is it? Ecology officials say in a recent survey 20% of residents put their recyclables in plastic bags before placing them in a curbside recycling bin.
A statewide “Recycle Right” initiative led by Ecology provides education on how everyone can pitch in to improve the recycling system. Curbside recycling in Yakima is available through Yakima Waste Systems. Large bins are used and don't require people to place any materials in a separate bag. 

Get our free mobile app

JUST THROW THE BAGS AWAY AFTER USE

So while you're recycling everything you can, recyclers say to throw the bags in the trash, because plastic bags are not recyclable in Washington’s curbside recycling programs. When you place recyclable items in a bag, it makes them impossible to sort. As a result, all bagged items are pulled from the sorting line and the contents are sent to the landfill because workers at recycling facilities cannot see what is inside the bags.

READ MORE: No Plastic Bags in Curbside Recycle Bin But You Can Still Recycle