Recycling plastic bags -- cutting through the confusion

While we all have to admit that recycling is important, we also have to admit that it can be downright confusing. That's why I rely on Earth911.com whenever I have questions.

Drop it in the recycling bin, Fido!

When it comes to plastic bags and wraps, here's the lowdown on what you can and cannot recycle:

Can:

• Bags marked #2 or #4. But make sure they are clean and dry.
• Produce bags 
• Dry cleaning bags (that one was a surprise to me)
• Bread bags
• The plastic packaging wrap around bulk foods and beverages
• The plastic packaging wrap around disposable products like napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, and diapers
• Newspaper bags
• And, of course, bags from grocery stores and retailers

For me, most of the above is a moot point since we don't use plastic produce bags, retail bags, paper towels, paper napkins, or disposable diapers. But I did not realize I could recycle the wrapping around toilet paper. I feel horrible about all the times I've thrown it in the trash.

Cannot:

• Plastic cling wrap (aluminum foil is recyclable, so it's often a preferable choice to plastic)
• Prepackaged food bags used for frozen foods and pre-washed salads and veggies
• Any plastic that has been painted or has a lot of gluey, sticky residue

Here's another area where I've been wrong. I've been tossing my frozen veggie bags into the recycling bin. Oops. Let's face it: it's confusing and there's always something new to learn. But don't give up! As I often say, every drop in the bucket counts. That means every recycled piece of plastic that stays out of the landfill counts, too. Let's do this, folks. Let's make a difference!