Only 10% of Snack Bags Are "Recycled." But Where Do They Really Go?

The Harsh Reality Behind Snack Bag Recycling

Snack bags often carry recycling symbols, giving the impression that they are easily recyclable. But in reality, only a tiny fraction ever make it through any form of reuse. And even that small percentage doesn’t follow the kind of recycling process most of us imagine. Instead, these bags are handled through alternative methods, and often in ways that raise serious environmental questions. So, what exactly happens to the so-called "10%" that are counted as recycled? Where do those snack bags actually end up?

The Four Realities of Snack Bag "Recycling"

The first and most common method is Waste-to-Energy (WTE). This involves burning snack bags in high-temperature incinerators to generate electricity or heat. While Japan and parts of Europe have advanced WTE facilities, this process is closer to energy recovery than true recycling. And the problems don’t stop there. Incineration releases harmful substances like dioxins, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter. To manage this, facilities use high-temperature combustion, activated carbon adsorption, and catalytic reduction systems, but even these measures are not perfect. Significant resources are required to minimize these emissions, making the environmental benefits questionable.

The second method is upcycling projects led by private companies and environmental groups. One of the most famous is Terracycle, which collects snack bags and transforms them into wallets, bags, and pencil cases. But despite the media attention, searching Terracycle’s official website reveals almost no actual products made from snack bags. While some brands like Pringles, Dove, and Nestlé have partnered with Terracycle to run waste collection programs, the scale is negligible. To be honest, the number of companies and individuals upcycling snack bags is so small, it might as well be zero.

The third method is Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF). This process converts waste materials like snack bags into industrial fuel. The process involves shredding the waste, removing impurities, and shaping it into high-energy fuel pellets. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden use RDF to fuel cement kilns and power plants. But again, this is hardly recycling. It’s simply burning waste for energy, with carbon emissions and leftover ash that still need to be managed.

The fourth method is chemical recycling through pyrolysis. This technology heats plastic waste to 400–600°C in an oxygen-free environment, breaking it down into oil. During this process, aluminum and plastic can be separated, with the plastic becoming synthetic oil and the aluminum potentially reused. But while promising in theory, pyrolysis remains stuck in pilot projects. It's expensive, energy-intensive, and not yet scalable. Plus, the process itself still produces greenhouse gases, which raises doubts about its environmental sustainability.

Recycling? Or Just Alternative Disposal?

Looking at these four methods, it’s hard to say that any of them represent true recycling. Burning snack bags for energy, turning them into industrial fuel, running experimental chemical processes, or creating a few small upcycled products—none of these solve the core problem. Instead, they serve as temporary or symbolic solutions to keep snack bags out of landfills for just a little while longer. But in the end, most snack bags are still incinerated or buried. If the current recycling system has no real answer for snack bags, then perhaps it's time for us to stop waiting for a solution from the system. If real recycling isn't possible, maybe the only option left is for us to create something entirely new. So the question remains: What will we do next?