A Word on Plastic Bags in Waltham

WALTHAM, MA – Waltham's recycling coordinator reminded residents of a little-known policy regarding the disposal of plastic bags, in light of the threat they pose to the environment.

According to Recycling Coordinator Eileen Zubrowksi, plastic bags are the largest contaminants in the recycling industry today, as they can cause jams within the sorting machines, take years to break down and often get ensnared in trees or end up in the ocean where they are mistakenly eaten by sea creatures.

Waltham uses single-stream recycling, meaning that you can throw paper cans, glass and plastic into the same recycling bin. Though plastic bags can be recycled as well, they should not be put in your home recycling container. Supermarkets, including Hannaford's, Market Basket, Shaws and Whole Foods, collect plastic bags for recycling.

They also sell reusable bags, so you can switch from throwaway plastic ones. The city reminds residents to please throw recyclable items into the bin without a plastic bag.

Several communities around Waltham have implemented a ban on plastic bags. Given Waltham's current policy, do you think the city should do away with plastic bags altogether? Let us know.

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