Here’s a practical, responsible plan for disposing of polyethylene packaging (shopping bags, bubble wrap, stretch film, polyethylene sheets, many types of food and product pouches).

Quick checklist

• Identify the plastic: polyethylene is usually HDPE (plastic #2) or LDPE (plastic #4). Film-like plastics (bags, wraps, bubble wrap) are usually LDPE/#4. Rigid containers (milk jugs, detergent bottles) are often HDPE/#2.
• Reuse first: reuse bags and bubble wrap for storage, packing, or trash liners.
• Recycle where accepted: follow the steps below to prepare and locate recycling.
• If recycling isn’t available: consider mail-back or brand take-back programs, or TerraCycle-type schemes. Avoid burning; landfill is last resort.

Step-by-step disposal and recycling guide

1. Sort and identify

   • Separate film/soft polyethylene (bags, wraps, bubble wrap, produce bags, pallet wrap) from rigid HDPE bottles and containers.
   • Look for recycling codes (#2 or #4) if present — but absence of a code doesn’t always mean it’s not polyethylene.

2. Prepare items for recycling (important)

   • Empty and rinse any food residue from rigid containers (bottles, tubs).
   • For film and bags: remove receipts, paper, stickers, tape, and anything that is not plastic (these contaminate collection).
   • Keep film items loose if your drop-off requires them loose; some store bins prefer bagged film items—check their instructions. Never recycle plastic film in curbside mixed recycling if your program tells you not to.

3. Use the right recycling stream

   • Rigid HDPE bottles/containers (#2) — often accepted in curbside recycling. Put in your single-stream recycling after rinsing and replacing caps if required by your program’s rules.
   • Plastic film and soft polyethylene (#4; e.g., bags, bubble wrap, shipping air pillows) — usually NOT accepted in curbside bins because they jam sorting equipment. Take to grocery or retail store drop-off bins for plastic bags/film recycling (many chain grocery stores offer this). Look for “plastic film” or “bag” drop-off signage.
   • Mixed-material pouches (metalized/foil-lined, some snack and pet-food bags) — often not recyclable via municipal or store-film programs. Look for brand take-back, TerraCycle programs, or manufacturer mail-back.

4. Find drop-off locations and programs

   • Grocery/retail store bag-drop bins accept clean, dry plastic film: shopping bags, bread bags, produce bags, outer wrap from cases, some bubble wrap and air pillows (deflate or pop them). Check the sign at the bin for details.
   • Municipal recycling centers sometimes accept film and specific polyethylene—check your city/county recycling guidance.
   • Brand take-back or mail-back programs: some packaging manufacturers and brands run recycling or take-back programs for complicated packaging. Search the brand website for “recycling” or “take-back.”
   • TerraCycle and other private programs accept many hard-to-recycle polyethylene types (often for a small fee or via sponsored collection).

5. Alternatives when recycling isn’t available

   • Reuse creatively: packing material, planting pots, drawer organizers, craft projects.
   • Upcycle or donate: local shipping stores, moving companies, community groups sometimes accept bubble wrap and packing foam for reuse.
   • Dispose in regular trash only as last resort — polyethylene in landfills persists but is preferable to burning.

6. Avoid harmful disposal

   • Don’t burn plastics — releases toxic chemicals.
   • Don’t place plastic film in curbside mixed recycling if your program says not to — it can jam sorting machinery and cause contamination.

Tips to reduce future waste

• Choose products with minimal or recyclable packaging.
• Buy in bulk to reduce single-use packaging.
• Bring reusable bags and containers when practical.
• Favor brands with clear recycling or take-back programs.

If you want, tell me where you live (city or ZIP) and I can look up nearby drop-off locations and your local curbside rules.