Milwaukee is launching a new push to significantly increase plastic bag and film recycling.
The new effort is being kicked off by Mayor Tom Barrett's declaration of October as “Milwaukee Plastic Film Recycling Awareness Month” and will include a radio advertising campaign.
The new program is part of Wisconsin WRAP, or Wrap Recycling Action Project, a partnership that includes the American Chemistry Council's Flexible Film Recycling Group, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, non-profit group GreenBlue and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
“Many Milwaukee residents already know that they can take back plastic grocery bags to many retail stores for recycling,” said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council, in a statement. “But they also can take back other plastic bags and wraps, such as zip top food storage bags, the bags for newspapers, produce, bread, and dry-cleaning, and even the plastic wraps from products such as paper towels, diapers, cases of water and more.”
Plastic bags and wraps can be returned to grocery stores and retailers including Roundy's Pick ‘N Save and Target. The materials do not go into the city's curbside recycling bins.
