In an effort to make Westchester even greener, one more item is being added to the line-up for Household Recycling Days  – plastic bags.

Residents are encouraged to bring plastic grocery bags, produce bags, dry cleaning film and bread bags to all the 2008 recycling days.

The average life of a plastic bag is 20 minutes and plastic bag litter has reached mammoth proportions. Plastic bags are made from polyethylene, a petroleum product, which may take as long as 500 years to degrade. In addition, as they decompose, they contaminate soil and waterways. The bags also catch on power lines, clog storm drains, and kill wildlife that may ingest or get entangled in them.

“Type 2” and “Type 4” bags can be recycled (the type of plastic is sometimes printed on the bag). Recyclables include:

• grocery bags
• newspaper bags
• bread bags
• dry cleaning film
• packaging for toilet paper and paper towels
• retail bags with hard plastic and string handles removed
• bags with sealed air for packaging

Bags recycled by the county will be sold to brokers and passed on to recyclers to be made into other products such as outdoor decking and low-maintenance fencing.

In fact, on April 21, 2008, County Executive Andy Spano signed a law requiring retailers with stores of 10,000 square feet or more that distribute plastic bags to their customers to establish an in-store collection and recycling program. The legislation, which was passed by the Board of Legislators requires stores to place receptacles near or at the entrance to the store. The retailer is responsible for collecting, transporting and recycling all the bags dropped off by their customers.