Are paper bag handles recyclable?

Paper bags have become a more popular alternative to plastic bags for grocery and retail shopping. Many people choose paper over plastic because paper bags are often thought to be more environmentally friendly and recyclable. However, while the paper part of the bag may be recyclable, many people wonder about the handles on paper bags. Are the handles also recyclable? Let’s take a closer look.

The Materials Used for Paper Bag Handles

Paper bag handles can be made from a variety of materials including:

• Paper
• String
• Plastic
• Cloth

The most common type of handle on standard kraft paper grocery bags is made of paper. These handles are made from the same kraft paper material as the rest of the bag. This makes them easily recyclable along with the paper bag itself.

Some more upscale retail paper bags may have handles made of string, cloth, or other materials. These types of handles create more problems for recyclability, which we’ll explore more later.

Plastic Handles

While not as common anymore, some paper bags come with plastic handles. These are usually made of some type of polypropylene plastic material. The problem with these plastic handles is that they are a different material than the paper bag itself. This complicates recycling.

Cloth Handles

Higher end retail paper bags, like those used at clothing or department stores, sometimes have cloth handles. The cloth handles can be made from cotton, canvas, burlap, or other fabrics. Like plastic handles, the different material makes cloth handles less recyclable than paper.

Are Paper Bag Handles Recyclable?

Whether or not paper bag handles are recyclable depends on the material used to make the handles:

• Paper handles are recyclable
• Plastic handles may not be recyclable in paper recycling
• Cloth handles are typically not recyclable in paper recycling

Paper Handles

If the bag handles are made of paper, they can be recycled right along with the paper bag. The paper handles don’t need to be separated from the bag. Just crush or flatten the paper bag with the handles and put it directly into your paper recycling bin.

Plastic Handles

Plastic handles need to be removed and recycled separately from the paper bag. If the paper goes into the recycling with plastic handles attached, it can jam up machinery and complicate the recycling process. The detached plastic handles can go into a designated plastic bag recycling bin if one is available in your community.

Cloth Handles

Cloth handles also need to be removed before recycling the paper bag. Check if your community has a textile recycling program where you can recycle the cloth handles. If not, the cloth handles will need to be trashed. The paper can be recycled without the cloth handles attached.

How to Prepare Paper Bags for Recycling

Here are some tips for preparing paper bags with handles for recycling:

• Remove any plastic or cloth handles
• Flatten bags as much as possible
• Place loose in recycling bin, not tied together
• Keep paper dry
• Avoid contamination with food residue

Flatten and crushing the bags helps them take up less space in the recycling bin. Paper bags should be placed loose in the bin, not tied, baled or bundled together which can also hinder the recycling process.

Keep paper dry and avoid contamination from food scraps or spills. Wet or contaminated paper is much harder to recycle.

What About Recycled Paper and BPI Certified Bags?

Some grocery stores and retailers use recycled paper bags or bags certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). Unfortunately, while these bags use more eco-friendly materials, any non-paper handles still create an issue for recyclability.

The handles will still need to be removed and handled separately, even on recycled paper and BPI certified bags.

The Recyclability of Paper Bags vs. Plastic Bags

Compared to plastic bags, paper bags tend to be much more recyclable. However, the handles can complicate paper bag recycling if they are made of materials like plastic or cloth.

Standard plastic shopping bags are not widely accepted in curbside recycling programs. While technically recyclable, plastic bags get tangled in recycling machinery. Most municipal recycling facilities are not equipped to handle them.

Paper bags themselves are more easily recycled in standard paper recycling streams. But any non-paper handles will still need to go through alternate plastic or textile recycling channels.

Recycling Facilities Want Clean Paper Streams

Ultimately, recycling facilities want clean streams of each material type. Mixed materials like paper and plastic can contaminate the recycling process. This is why any handles made from other materials need to be removed from paper bags prior to recycling.

What to Do With Non-Recyclable Handles

If certain paper bag handles are not recyclable in your area, the last resort is to dispose of them in the regular trash. Here are some options if you can’t recycle the handles:

• Dispose in trash bin
• Save and reuse handles for crafts
• Use plastic handles for small trash bags

While not the most eco-friendly choice, disposing of non-recyclable handles via the trash is better than contaminating your paper recycling. For plastic handles, consider reusing or repurposing them before throwing away if possible.

How to Dispose of Paper Bags Responsibly

Here are some top tips for responsible disposal of paper shopping bags:

• Remove any non-paper handles
• Recycle paper bag in appropriate bin – do not put in plastic recycling
• Break down and flatten bags before recycling
• Keep paper dry and free of food residue
• Recycle plastic handles properly if possible
• Dispose of non-recyclable handles in trash if needed

Taking the time to correctly separate and dispose of paper bag components helps keep recycling streams clean. This small effort goes a long way towards proper paper recycling and reducing waste.

Innovations in Paper Bag Handles

As environmental awareness grows, we may start to see some innovative solutions for more recyclable paper bag handles emerge.

Bags with Detachable Handles

One idea gaining some traction is paper bags designed with removable handles. The handles attach to the bag via a perforation down the middle. When ready to recycle, the consumer can detach the handles with ease.

Bag Handle Return Programs

Some grocery stores have installed bag handle collection bins. Consumers can remove any plastic or cloth handles and return them to the store. The handles get recycled or composted through specialized facility partnerships.

Compostable Handles

For compostable paper bags, companies are exploring handle materials like jute or sisal twine that can breakdown in commercial composting. These attach using compostable rivets.

Edible Handles

Bag designers are also experimenting with edible handles made from materials like pasta, which easily compost or dissolve in water. These quirky handles may provide an eco-friendly alternative if developed further.

The Bottom Line

When disposing of paper shopping bags, it’s important to remove any non-paper handles first. Paper bag handles made of plastic or cloth need to be recycled or disposed of separately from the paper bag itself. Taking a few extra moments to properly separate materials helps keep recycling streams clean and uncomplicated. With some thoughtful innovation, we may also start to see more recyclable handle solutions in the future.