Recycle Soft Plastics
Green Saves Green and the Pasquotank County Library are partnering with Central Elementary and River Road Middle School students to keep soft plastics out of the landfill and the environment.
The eighth-grade science and elementary students have signed up for the NexTrex Recycling Challenge. If they collect 1,000 pounds of soft plastics in a year, Trex will send them a free bench made out of recycled material to place on their campus.
Everyone can help!
Save your CLEAN soft plastics and drop them off in the NexTrex bin at the Pasquotank County Library. We'll collect the deposited plastics and get them to the participating schools.
Please let your family, friends, and colleagues know so they can help, too. And please continue to use your reusable bags for shopping! We don't want to encourage anyone to abandon them just to get plastic ones.
The Recycling Challenge started in November 2025 and will run until November 2026.
What are soft plastics?
Soft plastics, also called plastic film, are any plastics that can be stretched when you pull on them. If the plastic tears rather than stretching or “crinkles” when you squeeze it, it’s not a soft plastic and cannot be recycled. Common items that include recyclable soft plastic films are bread bags, grocery bags, and bubble wrap.
NexTrex accepted soft plastics
Any clean and dry polyethylene (PE), labeled as #2 or #4, plastic film and bags. Including grocery bags, produce bags, baggies, bread bags, plastic mail order envelopes, pallet wrap, air pillows, bubble wrap, ice bags, and more.
Find a detailed list here: https://nextrex.com/view/educate
Why soft plastics are not recycled by the city or county
These plastics are not accepted in curbside programs or at the county collection sites because they can get caught in the machines that sort other recyclables like paper and cans. And bags are generally too dirty after their trip in the back of the recycling truck to be recycled, even if they are collected at a recycling facility.
Protect the environment and help students
Plastic is one of the largest forms of global pollution. The U.S. alone generated 40 million tons of plastic waste in 2021 and only recycled 5% to 6% (2 million tons) of it. Of all the plastic waste produced, roughly 36% is classified as soft plastics.
Let’s work together to keep soft plastic out of the landfill and help students get a beautiful bench for their campus.
Recycle soft plastics at the library!!
