are bird seed bags recyclable

I buy bird seed in heavy duty plastic bags labeled #4. Can I dispose of these in bins at super markets?

Yes! I sent some s of popular bird seed bags to our plastic film customer, Trex Corporation. According to Trex, as long as the bag is 100% polyethylene (#4), and it is empty, clean and dry, theyll accept seed bags in the R.I. program.

The general guideline for plastic bags and films is that they should be fairly stretchy and somewhat see-through. Seed bags are similar to wood pellet bags, which are also accepted in the supermarket drop-off program. Trex recommends that the bags be turned inside out and shaken to make sure that the contents are emptied.

Your question got us thinking about the other gardening material bags that are most likely in fairly heavy use at the moment mulch, fertilizer, compost, etc. We contacted Scotts Company, and their advice was to NOT include their bags in the program. Their reasoning was that the chemicals used in the fertilizers, pesticides, and potting soils would most likely be considered a contaminant to Trex and other film recyclers. The chemical additives might interfere with the remanufacturing process, and compromise Trexs end product. Scotts was also concerned that the chemicals might make their way into food-grade plastic containers if their bags were recycled, however that wouldnt be the case in Rhode Island.

Trex takes the plastic bags and other films recycled by Rhode Islanders and creates manufactured decking, not food-grade containers. Nevertheless, we agree with Scotts that it isnt worth the chance of contaminating the loads of recyclable films, so please put all fertilizer, pesticide, and mulch bags in the trash.

There are plenty of other films that can be recycled along with your plastic shopping bags. Dry cleaner film, empty newspaper sleeves, produce bags, bubble wrap, cereal box liners, bagel and bread bags, sandwich bags (no plastic zippers, please), and plastic overwrap that covers cases of bottle water, paper towels, or toilet paper. All of these plastic films can be brought back to any large supermarket, pharmacy, or big box store for recycling. Most stores will have their containers located near the entrance or exit. If you dont see a container, ask the manager. If the manager says they dont have to have a container, give Rhode Island Resource Recovery a call or email us to verify. For more information about recycling plastic bags and films, take a look at our new video on YouTube at youtube.com/rirrc.

Sarah Kite-Reeves, director of recycling services at Rhode Island Resource Recovery, answers questions of general interest posed by Journal readers about recycling, municipal composting, hazardous household waste, waste reduction and other related matters. Send your questions to Trash Tutorial, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902. You can also email your question to features@providencejournal.com. Put Trash Tutorial in the subject field.

Wild Birds Unlimited Seed Bags are Recyclable!

The Trex Company gives bins to participating stores so they can gather recyclable LDPE 4 bags, which they then use to make their products. Participating stores currently listed on Trexs website are:

Kohls
Redners Market
Safeway
Weis
ACME
Food Lion
Giant Eagle
Price Chopper
Sharp Shopper
Tops

It is advised that used seed bags be completely emptied before being kept in a covered container until they are transported to the recycling location.

Trex recycles grocery bags, bread bags, case overwrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, wood pellet bags, zip-lock and other resealable bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, salt bags, and cereal bags in addition to our Wild Birds Unlimited seed bags.

Trex only accepts recyclable materials that are dry, clean, and devoid of any traces of food.

Yes, I did send some of our plastic film customer Trex Corporation’s well-liked bird seed bags. According to Trex, as long as the bag is 100% polyethylene (#4), and it is empty, clean and dry, theyll accept seed bags in the R. I. program.

Director of recycling services at Rhode Island Resource Recovery Sarah Kite-Reeves responds to general inquiries from Journal readers regarding waste reduction, hazardous household waste, recycling, and municipal composting. Please direct your inquiries to The Providence Journal’s Trash Tutorial, Features Department, 75 Fountain St. , Providence, RI 02902. You can also email your question to features@providencejournal. com. Put Trash Tutorial in the subject field.

I buy bird seed in heavy duty plastic bags labeled #4. Can I dispose of these in bins at super markets?.

Your inquiry made us consider the other gardening supplies bags that are probably being used fairly frequently right now, such as mulch, fertilizer, compost, etc. When we got in touch with Scotts Company, they advised us against including their bags in the program. Their justification was that Trex and other film recyclers would probably view the chemicals used in the potting soils, pesticides, and fertilizers as contaminants. Chemical additives have the potential to disrupt the remanufacturing process and jeopardize Trex’s final product. Scotts was also worried that if their bags were recycled, the chemicals might find their way into food-grade plastic containers, but in Rhode Island, that wouldn’t happen.