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Plastic Recycling

Merrick’s Plastic Recycling Program creates meaningful employment for 28 individuals with disabilities while keeping nearly 1 million pounds of plastic out of local landfills and incinerators each year. We partner with businesses to provide convenient, recurring plastic recycling pick-up services, and we welcome plastic drop-offs from the general public at our Work Services Program site in Vadnais Heights. Together, we can give more plastic a second life while supporting opportunities for people in our community.

What We Accept

Not sure if your plastic is recyclable with us? Use the guide below to find out what we accept and what we don’t.

  • Can We Recycle It?

    Use these quick questions to help you determine whether your plastic is accepted.

    1. Does it stretch when you pull it?
      If yes, then we recycle it!
    2. Does it tear like paper?
      If yes, then we do not recycle it.
    3. Is it shiny or does it make a crunchy sound?
      If yes, then we do not recycle it.
    4. Check the plastic type, if possible.
      We primarily recycle #2 and #4 plastic.

    All plastic must be:

    • Clean
    • Dry
    • Free of food residue

    Sticky labels are okay. There's no need to remove them.

    The easiest test: If the plastic stretches when you pull it, we probably recycle it. If it tears like paper or is shiny and crinkly, we do not.

  • Accepted Materials

    We accept all colors of the following materials:

    • Pallet wrap & stretch film
    • Case overwrap
    • Product wrap
    • Garbage bags/liners
    • Toilet paper/paper towel/water bottle wrapping
    • Salt bags
    • Ice bags
    • Non-paper bubble mailers & other plastic mailers
    • Grocery/retail bags
    • Ziploc & other re-sealable food storage bags
    • Bread bags
    • Cereal/pasta bags
    • Dry cleaning bags
    • Newspaper sleeves
    • Produce bags
    • Carpet overwrap
    • Furniture foam wrap
    • Heat sheets
    • Mattress bags
    • Wood pellet bags
    • Bubble wrap
    • Soft flexible foam
  • Non-Accepted Materials

    We do not accept the following materials:

    • Wet material
    • Hard plastic (e.g. water bottles)
    • Pallet strapping
    • Freight/shipping air sacs
    • Material containing nylon (sometimes looks like a grid in the plastic—common in pet food bags & freight/shipping air sacs)
    • Biodegradable/compostable bags or film packaging
    • Adhesives
    • Sticker backing
    • Organic material (including paper & cardboard)
    • Frozen food bags
    • Pre-washed salad mix bags
    • Six-pack rings
    • Aluminum-lined &/or metallic-looking packaging (ex. Chip bags & candy bar wrappers)
    • Rubber
    • Metal
  • Contact Us

    Businesses and individuals interested in utilizing our plastic recycling services should contact Assistant Production Director Marissa Jenson at (651) 789-6218 or MarissaJ@MerrickInc.org. Inquiries regarding services may also be submitted through our Business Solutions Referral Form.