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What is Bag It & Bring It?

Fill the Bags, Not the Landfill

When we say "fill the bags, not the landfill", we're inviting everyone to be part of the solution. The current recycling industry's infrastructure results in less than 10% of plastic waste being recycled*. Our Bag It & Bring It landfill-diversion programs work to collect all types of plastic; divert it from landfills, incineration plants, or the environment; and redirect it onto a recycling pathway.

We establish best practices for handling post-use plastics within communities and municipalities by introducing simple, all-plastic collection solutions. Bag It & Bring It accepts all plastics, all numbers, and all symbols—all together in a bag.

By offering residents easy access to 10to90 Bag It & Bring It Drop-Off Locations, we empower communities and cities to reduce the amount of plastic waste that goes where it doesn't belong. Through this model that eliminates confusion and increases participation, we believe we can find and create new recycling pathways for up to 90% of the material.

Cyclyx, through our 10to90 mission, is working to bridge the gap and move the needle in a positive direction for the recyclability of all plastics. These programs are part of the overall Cyclyx Solution to the plastic waste problem.

Collaboration in the City of Houston

Through a collaboration with the City of Houston and industry partners ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell, we have been able to launch and expand our take-back efforts via nine drop-off locations. These initiatives support our 10to90 mission of increasing the recyclability of post-use plastic from 10% to 90% worldwide.

As we ramp up preparations for the first Cyclyx Circularity Center's (CCC1) mid-2025 opening in Houston, the plastic waste collected from our Bag It & Bring It programs is being baled and stored. Once the CCC1 is operational, the material will be sorted, processed, and placed on a recycling pathway.

Where to Bag It & Bring It™ | Pick Your 10to90 Spot

Accepted Materials

Traditionally, plastics that enter the recycling streams have been processed through mechanical methods. Although this has resulted in thousands of tons of plastic per year being recycled, it represents less than 10%* of plastics produced.

Both advanced and mechanical recycling processes are vital to keeping plastic out of the environment, incineration plants, or landfill. Mechanical recycling is efficient for clean, well-sorted plastics like water bottles and milk jugs made from one type of plastic material, while advanced recycling accepts and processes a wide range of plastics to be converted into brand-new materials.

At Cyclyx, we leverage new technologies to accept, analyze, and process a wider diversity of plastic waste based on its composition. We sort and custom compound them according to customer specifications for their highest and best use. This allows difficult-to-recycle plastics to be building blocks for making new, virgin-equivalent materials. Currently, the aggregated Bag It & Bring It material is being stored in inventory until our first-of-its-kind Cyclyx Circularity Center (CCC1) opens in mid-2025, which is located in Houston.

The process is intricate, but the goal is simple!

Blueprint for Future Locations

This public-private partnership model is the first of its kind in the United States, and will serve as a blueprint for other cities and communities nationwide. As a pioneer in the space, Cyclyx and its team of experts selected Houston because it is the fourth largest municipality in the country. ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell are two of the world’s largest chemical companies headquartered in the Houston area, with goals to expand their recycling processes.

To learn more about ExxonMobil’s advanced recycling facility in Baytown, Texas, visit here.

To learn more about how LYB is helping end plastic waste and build a circular economy, visit here.



* (2024, November 8). National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling. United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-...

FAQs

I’ve heard conflicting information that I am not supposed to bag my recyclables. Why can we bag them for this program and not others?

Putting plastic materials in a bag is only specific to our Bag It & Bring It program. The main reason is to ensure lighter plastic films remain in the bin and do not fly out during transport, especially on windy days. This method also allows additional learnings about the mix of materials from households, which can be applied to future programs.

Why does it have to go in a bag? Can I put any loose plastic items in containers?

As part of our Bag It & Bring It program, all plastic materials will need to be bagged in plastic waste bags, plastic shopping bags, or any type of plastic bag you can repurpose (ex: plastic bag that once held paper towels). Please be sure to tie the bags shut to prevent items from escaping during transit. All plastic bags will likewise be put onto a recycling pathway.

What about bulk plastic items? Can I bring those?

We will accept all plastic items that can fit into a bag. For larger items, such as baby pools and plastic chairs, 10to90 is currently working on developing a bulk-plastic collection program. Announcements will be made when bulk collection is available.

Am I limited on the number of bags I can bring to a drop-off location each week?

There is no limit to the number of bags you can bring to a drop-off location each week.

Is plastic foam accepted?

Yes, plastic foam is accepted as long as it is placed in a plastic bag and tied shut. Bulky items that cannot fit in a bag will not be accepted at this time.

How clean do the plastics need to be? Should they be rinsed before I bag them? Do I need to remove plastic labels or lids?

Plastic items and containers should be emptied and rinsed clean, so that there is no food or other liquid residues. You do not need to remove labels or plastic lids. Simply empty, clean, and place in a bag.

How is it possible for some of these plastics to now be recycled?

Traditional mechanical recycling is more efficient for clean, well-sorted plastics like water bottles and milk jugs made from a single type of plastic material. Advanced recycling, another type of technology, can process a wider range of previously uncollected and complex plastics to their molecular building blocks for making virgin-equivalent products.

Where does the plastic go after it is collected? Is it really being recycled?

Currently, the collected Bag It & Bring It material is being stored in inventory until our first-of-its-kind Cyclyx Circularity Center (CCC1) opens in mid-2025, which is located in Houston. Once CCC1 is up and running, Cyclyx will chemically assess the materials to understand the most appropriate disposition—mechanical recycling or advanced recycling. They will also determine which recycling facility makes the most sense, including those currently being developed by LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, and others.