Plastic bags don’t go in Winnipeg’s recycling carts

The bags can cause serious problems for the sorting equipment

May 20, 2021

All types of plastic bags must stay out of the recycling carts in Winnipeg

While certain types of plastic can be recycled, it is very important to keep plastic bags out of the recycling carts in Winnipeg.

“Bags cause all kinds of problems,” said Mark Kinsley, Supervisor of Waste Diversion.

When that happens, the facility has to stop the equipment to cut out plastic bags that have become jammed.

“These are time-consuming events that cause delays for the whole process,” said Kinsley.

He said when workers are removing plastic bags on the conveyor belts, they are not able to remove other items. When they do get by equipment and workers, they decrease the quality and value of the finished material.

Plastic bags can get caught in the recycling sorting equipment and should not be put in recycling.

Plastic bags in any form should not go in the recycling carts. This includes more than just plastic grocery and shopping bags. It also includes plastic food bags, plastic food wrap of any kind, plastic shipping bags, and bubble wrap.

Plastic grocery bags can be returned to participating grocery stores to be recycled there, or should go in the garbage.

“That will give the sorters the chance to do what they are supposed to do,” Kinsley said, who also recommends people become familiar with what is accepted in Winnipeg’s recycling program.

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