No Plastics for Lent: Plastic Wraps & Bags
This June, our La Crosse Area Synod will gather in Assembly around the theme “For the Beauty of the Earth: Climate Edition.”
“Gracious Creator, as we journey toward gathering in our assembly in a few months, our hymn of thanks begins with praise of your majestic creating work in the world around us. We are part of your creation, and celebrate the sturdy yet fragile beauty of our earth and of the wonders beyond. Help and guide us to learn and live out ways to honor and sustain all of your creation as we seek life-giving relationships rooted in your creating love. Amen.”
Take your plastic wrap and bags to drop-off locations
You can recycle clean and dry plastic wrap and bags at many grocery stores and other retailers. Use the link below or check with local stores to find out what they take.
NexTrex Plastic Bag and Film Recycling www.NexTrex.com
Local businesses that accept plastic bags for recycling are Festival Foods, HyVee and Kohls.
Do NOT put plastic bags and wrap in curbside recycling bins. They get tangled in equipment at facilities that recycle cans, bottles, cardboard and paper. This puts workers in danger and causes costly facility shutdowns.
What can be Recycled?
More than shopping bags!
If you have plastic bags and wrap you can't reuse, you can often recycle them at stores or other drop-off sites if they are clean and dry.
Many people know shopping bags can be recycled—but other household plastic wrap can too! If they are clean, dry, and free of receipts or other items, the following can be recycled at drop-off sites:
newspaper bags;
bread and produce bags;
stretch film around furniture or electronics;
plastic shipping envelopes (remove labels), bubble wrap and air pillows (deflate);
zip-top food storage bags;
plastic wrap around paper products, soda/water bottles, diapers, etc. and
dry cleaning bags.
What Kinds of Plastic Wrap Can’t Be Recycled?
Any wrap or bag that contained frozen food
Pre-washed salad mix bags
Bags labeled as degradable
Any plastic wrap, bag or film that is dirty or wet
When in doubt, don't recycle it if you're not sure. Bags and wraps that are wet or dirty—or that are labeled compostable or biodegradable—can disrupt the recycling process and prevent the reuse of entire loads of recovered bags and wrap.
-Article Authored by Our Redeemer of La Crosse WI
