Woman hold the plastic bags and walk on the street in the park

Store Drop-off: US Only

In the US, plastic bags, wraps, and films aren’t accepted in most curbside or drop-off programs.  However, many of these packages are eligible for Store Drop-off recycling.

Explore the Label

DID YOU KNOW?

Store Drop-off is only available in the United States

Film packages that receive the Store Drop-off label in the US are Widely Recyclable in Canada. You can recycle these film packages in your curbside or drop-off bins. Check your local municipality for more information about what is accepted in your area.

Find Out Where

recyclability designations

Learn more about the Store Drop-off Label

Bring your packages with the Store Drop-off label to participating retailers and place them in the collection bins near the front of the store. Not all types of plastic film are compatible with the Store Drop-off stream. Always look for the How2Recycle Store Drop-off label!

our new pro label

Introducing Our New Store Drop-off Pro Label

Redesigned for consumer clarity and compliance with new legislation, the refreshed Store Drop-off label no longer includes the chasing arrows symbol. The new design is based on two rounds of consumer research, revealing that symbols are the most influential factor in how consumers interpret the label. The updated icon now reflects the appearance of many in-store collection bins.

Four labeled bins for different types of waste: Food Waste, Trash, Mixed Recycling, and Recycle Plastic Bags and Wraps at the entrance to store - San Jose, California, USA - June 9, 2024

 

 

 

Who can use Store Drop-off?

Anyone with access to a business that accepts plastic film for recycling can bring it to that store for collection. The bin will usually be located in the store’s entryway.

 

 

 

 

Eco friendly woman buys apples in the supermarket. Female grocery shopper opposes the use of plastic bags

What items qualify?

Look for the How2Recycle Store Drop-off label on flexible polyethylene-based plastics, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE, or #2 plastic) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE, or #4 plastic), including but not limited to:  

  • grocery and produce bags
  • bread bags
  • plastic stretch wraps
  • newspaper bags
  • plastic mailers with compatible label
  • wraps around paper products (paper towels, diapers, etc.)
  • cereal bags

The above lists applications where Store Drop-off recyclable flexible packaging can be found. This list does not mean all items in the categories have Store Drop-off recyclable packaging. If the item has had contact with food or another product that may leave behind residue, be sure that it is clean and dry before dropping it in the bin.

industrial plastic pellets background.

 

What happens after it’s collected?

After collection, the flexible plastic is baled and sold to independent companies. Then begins the process of turning these PE films into tiny plastic pellets. These pellets can become synthetic lumber for decking or park benches, or they might be recycled directly into another film, pouch, or bag form. How2Recycle highly encourages members to source recycled content for flexible plastic items to encourage the end market of the Store Drop-off stream.