The Town is partnering with our contractor JRM Hauling and Recycling to help educate residents about unacceptable material in the curbside recycling program. Soft plastics such as grocery bags, bubble wrap, beverage case wrap, and stretchy food bags, are never recyclable at the curb.

These soft materials are not able to be sorted in the recycling facility, and they gum up the machinery, causing dangerous conditions for sorting workers.

Residents who mistakenly place any soft plastics in their recycling bins or carts will find a bright sticker on the container and their recycling left behind. If this happens at your home, please remove the contamination and place recycling back out for collection the following week. 

Drop off programs for clean and dry plastic bags and film packaging exist in three Arlington locations:

• Stop & Shop, 905 Mass Ave., during open hours
• Whole Food Market, 808 Mass Ave., during open hours
• Monthly Arlington Recycling Center events, DPW, 51 Grove St.details here

What you can bring to drop off locations

Below is a clear label style that Recycling Coordinators worldwide really wish were required by all packing manufacturers