Keep Plastic Shopping Bags Out of the Recycling
Video Transcript
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Visual |
“Have you ever wondered what types of plastics are recyclable?” |
A sign for Emterra Environmental Single Stream Recyclable Materials Recovery Facility is shown. A timelapse of a front loader moving recyclable materials around the facility follows. |
“We’re here at the recycling facility to show you a few tips to help make sure your recycling efforts count!” |
A woman wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) walks toward the camera while inside the Emterra recycling facility. |
“Be sure to only put plastic packaging labelled #1-7 in your blue recycling cart.” |
Close ups of a variety of plastic containers and their recycling numbers are shown. |
“Some examples include: a plastic yogurt container, a mouthwash bottle, and a plastic clamshell container.” |
A woman wearing PPE displays a yogurt container, mouthwash container, and clamshell container while standing inside the Emterra recycling facility. |
“Please don’t put plastic bags or wrap in the recycling.” |
Slow motion footage of a recycling truck dumping materials followed by a shot of plastic bags caught in the spinning machinery. |
“If the plastic stretches, or you can poke your thumb through it, then it’s not recyclable.” |
Footage of hands stretching plastic wrap followed by a shot of a thumb pushing through a plastic bag. |
“Stretchy plastics get caught around the spinning machinery that sorts the recyclables. When this happens, it can sort the material into the wrong category and this can lower the quality of the good recyclables. ” |
Slow motion footage of materials traveling on a conveyor belt and plastic bags being cut from the spinning machinery. |
“Here’s a quick recycling tip: if the plastic bag or wrap makes a crinkly sound, or you can tear it, it should be placed in the garbage.” |
Footage of a man sorting materials on a conveyor belt. A close up shot of a woman crinkling plastic next to her ear. A shot of a woman tearing a plastic chip bag and placing it in a garbage bin. |
“We want you to be proud of the difference you’re making with your commitment to recycling. Let’s recycle the right stuff! Place your plastic bags or wrap in your brown garbage cart. |
Footage of recyclable materials traveling along a conveyor belt is shown. A woman talks to the camera. |
Visit Regina.ca/plastic for more details and tips on recycling plastics.” |
Text appears across the screen including a link to Regina.ca/plastic. The City of Regina logo also appears in the bottom right hand corner. |
Try the Stretch Test!
Does the plastic stretch when you pull it? Can you can poke your thumb through it? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it’s not recyclable in the blue cart. Common examples:
- Grocery bag
- Bread bag
- Produce bag
- Saran wrap
- Bubble wrap
- Overwrap on a pop case
Do the Crinkle Test!
Does the plastic bag or wrap make a crinkly sound or tear easily? If yes, these plastics are also not recyclable in your blue cart. Common examples:
- Chip bag
- Frozen vegetable bag
- Pasta noodle bag
- Pet food bag
Recycle the Right Stuff
Place Plastic Shopping Bags in the Garbage
Plastic shopping bags can create issues when they are brought to the recycling facility. The stretchy plastics get caught in the sorting equipment. This causes the machines to not work properly and good recyclables can be sorted into the wrong spot. As a result, the sorting line must be shut down more often to clean the equipment.
Plastic shopping bags can lower the quality of recyclables and make the sorting process more costly and inefficient. By recycling right, we can help keep the program costs low.
Plastic Bag Ban Coming 2021
Next summer, residents will no longer be provided plastic checkout bags when shopping. Council has approved the Checkout Bag Ban Bylaw which comes into effect August 1, 2021.
Not Sure Where to Put an Item?
Check out the Waste Wizard tool to find out how to properly dispose or donate common waste items.
Regina residents are making a big difference when it comes to recycling. Together, we’ve redirected more than 60,500 tonnes of recyclable material from going to the landfill since 2013.