Multi-layer plastic

What items can we take?

Please shake or wipe out any crumbs. If you need to wash something to get it clean, please make sure it is completely dry before putting it in your bag!

Resealable food bags

Plastic coffee bags

Frozen food bags

Must be clean and completely dry

Fresh food bags

Plastic bags for dry pet food and treats

Thick food bags with shiny lining

Thin wrappers with shiny lining

Plastic granola bar and energy bar wrappers

Chip bags

Plastic candy wrappers

Plastic candy bar wrappers

Ramen outer packaging

Crunchy plastic food bags

Potting soil, fertilizer, and bark bags

Must be thoroughly cleaned and completely dry

Woven plastic bags

Produce netting

Please remove any metal parts like clips or ties

Soft, flexible rings

What isn’t in this category?

We are unable to take items that are dirty or items made with paper.

Plastic film items

Plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, etc - put these in your plastic film bag! :)

Dirty or oily items

Paper bags

Paper coffee bags

Mixed material with paper

Waxy cracker wrappers, paper candy wrappers, or any items that have paper or waxy layers

Single-serve coffee packets

Canvas or burlap coffee bags

Reuse these if you can!

Thick foil/metal

Aluminum foil, ramen seasoning packets, foil candy wrappers, etc

Metallic bubble wrap and insulated bags

Squeezable food containers

Foil drink pouches

Packaging for wet pet food

Multi-layer plastic.

The bags your frozen berries and favorite almonds come in may look and feel like they're made of only one kind of plastic, but they're actually made of multiple layers of different plastic types. These layers help keep food fresh until it's eaten, but they're notoriously difficult to recycle. That's where Ridwell comes in!

We take your multi-layer plastic items, and our partners turn them into cool new products like building materials and leach-free stormwater drainage material.

Partnering with Hydroblox, Inc.

HydroBlox creates commercial and industrial drainage solutions. HydroBlox manufactures drainage material in the shape of long planks made from 100% landfill-bound plastic. These planks help control water flow, directing rain and stormwater from under roadways and homes back to the aquifers where they belong. HydroBlox prides itself on its environmentally friendly manufacturing process which uses no glue, binders, chemicals or exhaust heat to bind together and it does not create dust or fumes. Even the water used for cooling the material is recycled and the scrap plastic is re-recycled. HydroBlox has been named one of the top mechanical recycling companies in the world by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Partnering with Merlin Plastics

Merlin Plastics, a circular economy-focused plastic recycler servicing the U.S. and Canada, gives used plastic a new life, providing an alternative to virgin resin to be used by plastic manufacturers. Used plastics, like your plastic items collected by Ridwell, are shredded, washed, and pelletized into a post-consumer resin (PCR) at Merlin. Ultimately, PCR is used to make various commercial and industrial products like nursery planting pots, piping, and more. Merlin is committed to circularizing discarded packaging in an environmentally sound, economically efficient, and socially responsible fashion.

Partnering with First Star Recycling

Firstar Fiber (Firstar), dba First Star Recycling, was formed in 1997 with the goal of enhancing Nebraska’s recycling infrastructure. Its Omaha based material recycling facility (MRF) accepts residential and commercial recyclables from throughout the Midwest. In 2023, the company added processing capability to convert hard-to-recycle plastics, such as multi-layered packaging, into feedstock that then can be recycled into a variety of products. This includes Firstar’s own Solution Plastics™, dimensional plastic lumber used by do-it-yourselfers for raised garden beds, benches, fences, patios, and more. Material collected by Ridwell members will be sent to First Star Recycling for the production of their dimensional plastic lumber.

FAQ

What is the difference between plastic film and multi-layer plastic?

Plastic film is made up of just one type of plastic, usually #2 or #4, and can be easily stretched with just your thumb. Multi-layer plastic is a type of material used in packaging that is made up of multiple layers of different plastic types fused together. It’s generally thicker and difficult to stretch.

How clean does multi-layer plastic need to be?

Dirt, oil, food, and mold from moisture or food remnants are considered contaminants. Multi-layer plastic needs to be clean and completely dry before going in your bag, as contaminated items are not able to be recycled properly. We appreciate your help with this!

What happens to multi-layer plastic once it is collected by Ridwell?

Ridwell processes, bales, and sends the multi-layer plastic to our partners. We have two awesome partners we work with to recycle your multi-layer plastic:

ByFusion turns your items into construction-grade building blocks.
Hydroblox turns your items into water drainage material.

To see which partners we're working with in your area, check the partner info above (just below the list of items we take).