Instructions

Although your curbside collection doesn't pick up thin plastic film, you can collect bubble wrap & air pillows (deflate both), plastic bags, and plastic wrap in a single plastic bag until it's the size of a basketball to drop off at a large, chain, grocery store. Due to the crash of the recycling market, many smaller locations are no longer taking plastic film.

As of May 2020, the stores that currently accept plastic film in the Berkeley area include:

-Target (University Ave. and in Albany) -Sprouts (Albany) -Whole Foods (Gilman & Telegraph Ave.) -Trader Joe's (University Ave. & College Ave.) - -Walmart stores

Alternatives

Keep a reusable bag on hand for spontaneous and planned shopping trips. Opt for reusable packaging options made out of materials such as cloth, beeswax, metal, etc.

Facts

In 2008, the average American family took home ~1,500 plastic shopping bags a year.