Plastic bag recycling doesn't happen in your blue bin. The City of San Diego asks residents to keep plastic bags, film and wrap out of it, because they tangle in the sorting machines. Collect clean, dry bags and film separately and take them to a soft plastic drop-off, such as the Plastic Beach bag-swap at our Point Loma warehouse.
This guide covers what counts as film, how to test a bag you're not sure about, where to take it, and why California stores have mostly stopped handing out plastic carryout bags. It also says plainly what we don't take, so you don't make a wasted trip.
Can plastic bags go in the recycling bin?
No. The City of San Diego curbside rules list plastic bags, plastic film and plastic wrap as items to keep out of the blue bin. The City also asks you not to put recyclables in a plastic bag, because the bags get tangled in the sorting machinery. Compostable and biodegradable plastics stay out too.
That's the main reason plastic bag recycling can't run through curbside. Recycling plants sort paper, bottles and cans on moving machinery, and thin film wraps around it like string around a fan.
So keep everything in the blue bin loose. Rigid plastics such as bottles, tubs and jars belong there when they're empty and dry. Bags, film and wrap need a separate route.
The same goes for other things that tangle, such as hoses, wire and cords. If you're also clearing out metal, our guide to the types of scrap metal shows where each kind goes.
What counts as plastic film
Plastic film, also called soft plastic, is any thin, flexible plastic you can scrunch in your hand. Most of it is polyethylene, often marked #2 or #4. The quickest check is the stretch test. Pull the plastic gently between your hands. If it stretches, it's usually okay. If it crinkles or tears like paper, leave it out.
| Accepted in the film stream | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Grocery and shopping bags | Chip and candy wrappers |
| Bread bags and cereal liners | Frozen-food and salad mix bags |
| Clean, dry food storage bags | Pet-food, meat or heavily laminated pouches |
| Plastic shipping mailers (paper labels removed) | Biodegradable and compostable bags |
| Bubble wrap and air pillows | Net and mesh produce bags |
| Stretch film and pallet wrap | Six-pack rings |
| Case wrap from multipacks | Shiny, crinkly film that tears like paper |
| Dry-cleaning bags and unused trash bags | Hard plastics of any kind |
Everything must be clean, dry and free of food. Shake out crumbs, wipe off residue and let damp bags dry. Peel off paper labels and tape, and take out any non-plastic parts where you can.
Padded mailers made of paper bonded to plastic don't pass the test, because the two materials can't be pulled apart. A fully plastic mailer with the label peeled off is fine.
Where to take plastic bags for recycling in San Diego
Plastic bag recycling in San Diego takes a little planning, because film needs its own route. You have three practical options, and they work best together. Cut down what comes home, reuse what you can, and send the rest to a drop-off that keeps film clean.
The Plastic Beach bag-swap at Dream E-Waste
We're an electronics recycler, so we don't process plastic ourselves. Instead we host a bag-swap run by Plastic Beach, a San Diego County 501(c)(3) nonprofit that specializes in soft plastic film. It's a paid monthly subscription, and Plastic Beach manages the pricing and sign-up.
- Subscribe through the Drop Off at Dream E-Waste page on Plastic Beach's website.
- Pick up your collection bag (a reused grain bag) at our warehouse, 4009 Hicock St STE D, San Diego 92110. We're open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Fill it with clean, dry film from the accepted list.
- Bring it back when it's full and swap it for an empty bag.
We accept plastic only at this Point Loma warehouse, and only through the subscription. Our other locations don't take plastic. The full accepted list and steps are on our soft plastic drop-off at our Point Loma site page.
Store take-back bins
Some stores have run plastic bag recycling bins near the entrance. Programs change, so call or ask at the service desk before you save up a bag for one. Follow the store's own rules on what film goes in.
Reuse first
The best plastic bag is the one you use again. Old grocery bags work as bin liners, for pet waste, for wet swimsuits and for packing shoes. Bubble wrap and air pillows can protect the next parcel you send. A reusable tote in the car covers most shopping trips.
Does plastic bag recycling actually work?
Some of it does, and the honest answer depends on how clean the film is. Film that's dirty, wet or mixed with wrappers and pouches is hard to recycle and often gets rejected. Clean, sorted film of the right type has a much better chance.
That's the thinking behind the bag-swap, which treats plastic bag recycling as a clean, separate stream. Because subscribers collect only accepted film and bring it in a dedicated bag, the stream stays clean, dry and ready to bale. That gives more of what you bring a real chance of being recycled through the right channels.
Plastic Beach reports on its own site that it has diverted more than 250,000 pounds of plastic from landfills. That's the nonprofit's figure, not ours. We can't tell you what every bag becomes, and we'd rather say so than guess.
What you can control is the input. Sort out wrappers and pouches, keep film dry, and use the stretch test when you're unsure. Plastic bag recycling works only when the film going in is the film that buyers want.
California's plastic bag rules from 2026
If you've noticed fewer plastic bags at checkout, the law explains it. Under SB 1053 (2024), from January 1, 2026, many stores can only offer recycled paper carryout bags at checkout, according to CalRecycle. The rule covers grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts and liquor stores. Stores must also charge for each bag.
- From January 1, 2028, those paper bags must contain at least 50% postconsumer recycled material.
- Since January 1, 2025, pre-checkout bags (for produce or bulk food) must be recycled paper or compliant compostable bags.
- The older reusable plastic bag rules from SB 270 no longer apply, as CalRecycle explains.
- The rule leaves out some bags, such as pharmacy bags, nonhandled protective bags and garment bags.
CalRecycle explains the rules but doesn't enforce them.
A separate law, SB 54, became law on June 30, 2022. It makes producers responsible for cutting single-use plastic packaging and for making packaging recyclable or compostable by 2032. CalRecycle has approved the Circular Action Alliance as the producer responsibility organization that runs the program.
None of this changes what to do with the bags already in your drawer. They still stay out of the blue bin.
Stretch wrap and film from businesses
Shops, offices and warehouses collect a lot of stretch film, pallet wrap, case wrap and bubble wrap from deliveries. It follows the same rules as household film. It must be clean and dry, with labels and tape removed. The pallets the wrap comes on are a separate stream, and our pallet recycling page explains which ones we take.
Small amounts of wrap can go in a subscription bag. For larger volumes, call us at (619) 889-1305 before you bring it in, so we can point you to the right option.
Bring your old electronics on the same trip
Our main work is electronics. Anything with a cable, a plug or a battery is usually e-waste, and our guide to what counts as e-waste explains the details. You can drop off electronics with us and complete your bag-swap in the same visit. If you're clearing out cords and cable too, our guide to copper wire recycling explains why you don't need to strip anything first.
Start plastic bag recycling with a bag-swap
Enroll with Plastic Beach, pick up a bag at our Point Loma warehouse and swap it when it's full. The accepted list and steps are on our plastic recycling page. Hard plastics stay in your blue bin.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recycle Amazon mailers?
Fully plastic shipping mailers are accepted in the film stream once you peel off the paper labels. Padded mailers made of paper bonded to plastic are not, because the layers can't be separated. If you're unsure, try the stretch test. Film that stretches is usually fine, while film that tears like paper isn't.
Are compostable bags recyclable?
No. Compostable and biodegradable bags don't belong in the blue bin, and they aren't accepted in the soft plastic film stream either. They look like regular film but behave differently when recycled. Check your local waste rules for where they should go.
Does Dream E-Waste take hard plastic?
No. We don't take hard plastics such as bottles, tubs or containers. Those go in your curbside blue bin if they're empty, dry and loose. The only plastic we accept is soft film, through the Plastic Beach subscription at our Point Loma warehouse.
Is the Plastic Beach drop-off free?
No. The bag-swap runs on a monthly subscription that Plastic Beach manages, including pricing and sign-up. Check the current terms on Plastic Beach's drop-off page before you subscribe. Your electronics, which you can drop off in the same visit, are a separate matter.
Can I drop off e-waste at the same visit?
Yes. You can drop off electronics with us at 4009 Hicock St and swap your Plastic Beach bag on the same trip. We're open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and no appointment is needed for electronics.
