The Big Lie About Snack Bag Recycling

 Snack bags often come with a recycling symbol, leading many to believe they are recyclable. However, the reality is quite different. Only a small fraction—around 10%—is processed, and even then, it rarely follows the traditional recycling path. Instead, these snack bags are diverted into alternative waste management methods. But what exactly happens to that 10%?

The Four Ways Snack Bags Are "Recycled"

1) Incineration for Energy (Waste-to-Energy, WTE)

Instead of being recycled into new materials, most snack bags are incinerated to generate electricity or heating energy. This method is widely used in countries like Japan and several parts of Europe. While WTE reduces landfill waste, it raises concerns over carbon emissions and air pollution. More importantly, many waste statistics classify this process as "recycling," even though it is fundamentally different from material recovery.

2) Upcycling Initiatives (e.g., TerraCycle and Brand Programs)

Some companies and environmental initiatives run take-back programs, collecting used snack bags and turning them into wallets, tote bags, or pencil cases. While these projects highlight creative reuse, they handle only a minuscule fraction of waste. The process is labor-intensive, costly, and unsuitable for mass production, making it an impractical large-scale solution.

3) Conversion into Solid Fuel (Refuse-Derived Fuel, RDF)

In some countries, snack bags are processed into a specialized industrial fuel. This method, practiced in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, involves shredding plastic waste and compressing it into burnable pellets used in factories and power plants. However, this is more of an energy recovery method rather than true recycling, as the plastic is still ultimately burned.

4) Chemical Recycling (Pyrolysis and Thermal Decomposition)

Some experimental facilities use high-temperature treatment to break down plastic waste into synthetic oil, which can then be refined into fuel or new plastics. While promising in theory, pyrolysis remains costly and inefficient, preventing widespread adoption. At present, this technology is still in its early stages and far from a viable large-scale recycling method.

Conclusion: Are We Truly Recycling Snack Bags?

Among these four processes, none can truly be called "recycling" in the conventional sense. Most snack bags are either incinerated, converted into fuel, or repurposed in niche projects rather than being transformed into new plastic products. In reality, the majority still end up in landfills or are burned for energy. If the existing recycling system cannot effectively process snack bags, should we continue relying on it? Or is it time to explore entirely new solutions?