Can You Bag Your Recycling in Plastic Bags?

We’ve recently had TWO reader questions about placing recyclables in plastic bags for curbside pickup.

“Is it true that we cannot put recyclables in clear/blue “recycle” trash bags?” – Eliezer

“This is random, but I remember reading something on the Green Philly Blog that I now can’t find for the life of me. I could swear that Philly doesn’t want recycling placed into plastic bags because it gunks up the sorting equipment.” – Alon

Should you bag your recyclables in Philadelphia?

The simple answer is NO to bagging your recyclables in plastic bags. They get stuck in our MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) centers and disrupt the recycling cycles.

You can put your recyclables in paper bags although this can often lead to more litter with wind / spillage / etc.

Best case scenario: get a FREE blue bin from the City. Here’s where to find a free recycling bin.

Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia.