Plastic film recycling services now available

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now offering plastic film recycling services at the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center in Derwood.  

Plastic film are flexible plastic bags and wraps. They are recycled differently than bottles and containers. For example, grocery bags and bread bags do not go in most curbside recycling bins. Instead, plastic bags and wraps should be taken to the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center in Derwood or other plastic film drop-off locations.  

The new program expands the list of materials accepted for recycling and is another step toward waste reduction and environmental sustainability. 

Residents and businesses can bring uncontaminated plastic film to the upper lot of the Shady Grove Transfer Station and Recycling Center, which is located at 16101 Frederick Road in Derwood.   

This new plastic film recycling effort comes as the county is recognizing “Plastic Free July” encouraging residents, businesses and communities across the county to reduce the use of single-use plastics.  Recycling plastic film is another way to help remove plastics from the waste stream. 

Plastic film must remain clean, dry and free from other materials or contaminants. Biodegradable or compostable bags and packaging, pre-washed salad mix bags and resealable food storage bags are among the plastics not acceptable materials for this program. 

“The plastic film recycling program is yet another county resource to help residents recycle more and aim for zero waste,” said DEP Director Jon Monger. “Along with plastic film, we have added durable medical equipment, mattresses, bicycles and building materials to our growing list of items accepted for recycling or reuse and we have increased our recycling for electronics and textiles. These recycling efforts are working. From 2018 to 2022, the amount of waste disposed of per person decreased by 11 percent, even as the county’s population continued to grow. This is no small feat—and a credit to so many residents and partners across the county working to reduce waste, reuse materials and recycle more.” 

Plastic film includes a range of materials, such as plastic bags, product wrap and packaging.   

Acceptable items that Montgomery County is now recycling include: 

• Plastic films labeled with #2 or #4 recycling symbols (polyethylene films) 
• Clean and dry plastic grocery bags 
• Bread bags 
• Dry cleaning bags 
• Newspaper sleeves 
• Produce bags 
• Ice bags (must be dry) 
• Wood pellet bags 
• Salt bags 
• Cereal box liners 
• Retail shopping bags 
• Pallet wrap 
• Stretch film 
• Case overwrap (e.g., water bottle and drink cases) 
• Shrink-wrap 
• Mattress bags 
• Furniture wrap 
• Air pillow packaging material 
• Plastic shipping envelopes 
• Film bubble wrap 

Plastic bags and film received for recycling are used to make decking, outdoor furniture, playgrounds, landscaping blocks and borders, and corrugated pipe—among other eco-friendly and long-lasting products. 

For more information on this program and the complete list of items that are accepted for plastic film recycling, visit the DEP Plastic Film Recycling webpage or call 311.