Are Ziploc Bags Recyclable?
Shopping is a whole lot of fun when you have things that make it easier for you. As a regular shopper, you would have discovered that one of the best things ever invented was a shopping and packaging bag.
And, to be honest, Ziploc bags are one of the best shopping and packaging bags out there. They have been around since 1968 and almost everyone has made use of them. This shows that Ziploc bags are not just friends of the regular American shoppers, they are also in massive daily use.
Though having something people are cool with like this is great, we, however, have to consider another aspect to it. And that is its environmental impact.
In today’s world, there is always an environmental angle to many things, and Ziploc bags are not an exception.
Hence, in this post, we shall be taking a dive into what it means to use a Ziploc bag and what is its environmental effects. Specifically, we will be considering whether or not you can recycle a Ziploc bag, and how you can if it is possible to recycle. We will also consider if Ziploc bags are safe for us and whether or not they are reusable.
So, as you have observed, this post is fully loaded with enormous information just for you. What then do you have to do? Nothing much; just sit back and enjoy the torrents of the information below.
Can You Recycle Ziploc Bags?
The fact that Ziploc bags are in common use today among Americans is enough reason to consider whether we can recycle them. Truth be told, there is a lot to gain from recycling an object. From the energy to cost and then down to pollution, we save a lot just by recycling.
This means that for material like Ziploc bags, we would be saving a lot if it is possible for us to recycle them. But then, the real question is can we recycle them? we have the answer to that just below.
The answer to that is in the affirmative. Yes, you can recycle Ziploc bags. Manufacturers make Ziploc bags from materials known as Polypropylene. Because of this Polypropylene material, Ziploc bags are easily recyclable.
There are many recycling stations that are willing to have your Ziploc bags to recycle. So, you shouldn’t hold back when you feel like putting the Ziploc bags in the recycling bin.
There are also stores that have to drop off spot for Ziploc bags. This means that when next you are going to the store for shopping, you can go along with your old Ziploc bags. These stores would collect Ziploc bags from many shoppers and give them up for recycling.
So, as you can see, it is quite easy to recycle Ziploc bags; just toss them in the recycling bins. The recycling stations would be glad to have them and make them into new things.
However, there is still some note of caution. Though Ziploc bags are easy to recycle, and we told you to always do so, you still have to watch out for some things. And one of those things is the kind of Ziploc bag you drop off.
You have to be careful so you don’t drop off Ziploc bags that would contaminate the whole recyclable materials. By this, you have to watch out for Ziploc bags that are stained or dirty.
Stain on Ziploc bags could be anything. It could be ink, paint or chemicals. The reason for this is that these stains could contain toxic chemicals that might leach into the whole recyclable during the recycling process.
If this happens, it can make a mess of the whole recyclables. Hence, it is better to exclude the Ziploc bags that are already stained.
Also, before tossing your Ziploc bags in the recycling bin, ensure that there is no food particles in them. You can always rinse the bags to remove the food particles that might be lurking around.
The Ziploc bags that are dirty should also be excluded. This should be done only if the dirt cannot be washed away.
Asides from these, all other Ziploc bags should go into the recycling bin.
How To Recycle Ziploc Bags?
Recycling Ziploc bags is something that the recycling station loves to do. Though this kind of recycling is recently gaining ground, those that are already into the recycling can testify to the ease.
Nonetheless, as an end-user of Ziploc bags, you have to know what to do to make things much easier. This is basically learning how to recycle Ziploc bags. And, below you have the details spelled out for you.
1. Locate A Recycling Station That Accepts Ziploc Bags
One thing about Ziploc bags is that its recycling is just gaining ground. This means that the chances are that your local recycling station may not have started accepting it. So, the first thing is to confirm the state of things.
If your recycling station accepts Ziploc bags, then you are free to drop them in your recycling bin. If it does not, you might have to take the Ziploc bags to the local store’s drop off spot.
Here, the local store would gather the various Ziploc bags and send them to the recycling station accepting the bags for recycling.
This is important for you to do. Not doing this means that you might be wasting your time and the effort of the recycling officer by dropping the bags in your recycling bin.
2. Package Your Ziploc Bags
The next thing to do is to package your Ziploc bags. It will look untidy and problematic if you drop the Ziploc bags in the recycling bin one after the other.
What you have to do is open up a Ziploc bag and put the other bags in it. When it becomes big enough, you can seal it and drop it in the recycling bin. This would make it easier for the recycling company to sort things out and ease the recycling process.
3. Remove The Zip
Of course, if you have handled a Ziploc bag before, you would have discovered that it has a zip. This zip is used to prevent air from entering the bag and seal the content.
Before you place your Ziploc bags in the recycling bin, you might want to remove this zip. It is important that you do this. In fact, many recycling stations advise this. You can use scissors to cut this off.
Taking these three steps is how to recycle your Ziploc bags. Keep the environment safe and take these steps without worry.
Are Ziploc Bags Safe?
Anywhere in the world, one of the things people are most concerned about is safety. And to be honest, it is one of the most talked-about subjects in America. Everyone wants to know if they are safe by going somewhere, doing something or using something.
This consciousness is what raised the question of safety with Ziploc bags. And now we ask, are Ziploc bags safe? Well, you are about to find out about that.
Yes, Ziploc bags are safe. You can put your mind to rest now. But then, what you want to know goes beyond an affirmative statement of their safety. It extends to the reason they are declared safe for use. Well, you can trust us to dig that out for you. So, let’s consider it.
Ziploc Bags are Declared BPA Free: Unlike some other packaging or plastic materials, Ziploc bags do not contain BPA. The manufacturers of Ziploc bags, SC Johnson, states that the bags have been examined for toxicity and that it complies with relevant safety and quality regulations.
What this means is that you can always make an unbothered use of the bags as you do not stand the risk of getting any of those unprintable illnesses.
Ziploc Bags Are Free From Dioxins: Some plastic bags have been known to release dioxins into one’s food when heated at a certain temperature. This dioxin can in turn expose humans to the risk of cancers. This is bad and those plastic materials should be done away with.
The good news, however, is that Ziploc bags do not contain these dioxins. This means you can use it without being worked up that it might cause cancer.
Ziploc Bags Meet All FDA Requirements: Let’s be factual, some FDA requirements are difficult to meet. But, this is why it is better for us all. FDA exists to monitor the safety of what we all consume.
For Ziploc bags, all relevant FDA requirements have been met without stress. Particularly, all the temperature-related requirements have been met.
So, as you can see for yourself, using Ziploc bags can be as safe as anything you can think of.
Are Ziploc Bags Reusable?
Reusing a product or material is one of the easiest ways to save cost. Besides, and more importantly, it is beneficial to the environment. Believe or not, more resources and energy are devoted to the process of producing a new thing. This, in effect, impacts the environment negatively.
So, the right thing to do is to always find ways of reusing a product. When it comes to Ziploc bags, it is possible to reuse them. Manufacturers of Ziploc bags didn’t make it for single-use, so you can always reuse them.
But then, how do you do this?
If you consider that Ziploc bags are often used to package edible things that might stain them, you might get confused about how to reuse them. But don’t fret, there is a way around it.
All you have to do is wash the Ziploc bags with some dish soap and water. Then seal it and shake it thoroughly. Be careful how you shake it so the bag won’t burst open.
You can also get a sponge that has a handle and use it to wash the Ziploc bags. Otherwise, you can turn the Ziploc bags inside out and wash it with your regular sponge. This seems easy to do.
After you have washed and rinsed it thoroughly, you might want to air it for some minutes and allow it to dry. If there is still some water in it, you can use a paper towel to dry out the excess water.
Once you have done all this, you have no problem again. Your Ziploc bag is fit for use. You can use it to pack your food items. When next you are going to the store, you can take it along with you to pack what you bought.
Basically, that’s the way to reuse your Ziploc bags.
Conclusion
Ziploc bags are many people’s favorite. While this is great, environmental concern is raised. These environmental concerns have been addressed above. And from what we observed, it seems that you can use your Ziploc bags without much worry.
All you have to do is recycle and reuse them. Once you don’t toss them in your waste bin to end up in the landfill, we are all fine.
