How to Recycle Plastic Wrap and Stretch Film in Chicago: Where Warehouses and Retailers Can Dispose of Pallet Wrap

If you manage a warehouse, distribution center, or retail operation in Chicago, you know how fast plastic stretch wrap piles up. Every pallet that comes through your loading dock leaves behind a wad of clingy film — and if you're shipping product out, you're generating even more.

The good news: stretch film and pallet wrap are recyclable. The catch: they don't go in the blue cart, and most residential drop-offs won't take commercial volumes. Here's where Chicago-area businesses can actually recycle this stuff.

What Counts as Recyclable Plastic Wrap

Not all plastic film is created equal. Here's what facilities will accept:

✅ Accepted:

• Stretch wrap and pallet wrap (LDPE #4)

• Shrink wrap from pallets and bulk packaging

• Clear or tinted stretch film (clean, no heavy contamination)

• Bundling film used in shipping

❌ Not Accepted:

• Household plastic wrap (Saran Wrap, Glad Wrap)

• Food-contaminated film

• Metallized or heavily printed film

• Bubble wrap (some facilities take this separately — check first)

• Film with tape, labels, or heavy adhesive residue

If the film is clean, stretchy, and came off a pallet, it's probably recyclable.

Where Chicago Businesses Can Recycle Stretch Film

Most Chicago facilities that handle plastic film recycling are set up for commercial accounts, not one-off drop-offs. If you're generating regular volume, here are your best options:

Trex Retail Drop-Off Program

Trex (the composite decking company) partners with grocery stores and retailers to collect clean plastic film. Participating Chicago-area locations include:

• Jewel-Osco (multiple locations — check jewel.com for the nearest store with a film recycling bin)

• Mariano's (select locations)

These bins accept household-scale film (grocery bags, bread bags, product wrap), but some stores will take small commercial volumes if you're dropping off clean stretch wrap in manageable quantities. Call ahead.

Industrial Recyclers (Commercial Accounts)

If you're a warehouse, distribution center, or retailer generating pallet wrap by the bale, you need a commercial recycler:

• Republic Services — commercial film recycling available for qualifying accounts. Reach out through their business services line

These companies typically require you to bale or bundle your film. Loose, tangled stretch wrap won't work — you'll need to collect it in gaylords or compact it for pickup.

Relogistics Services (Elk Grove Village)

Call to confirm current acceptance and volume requirements.

How to Prep Stretch Film for Recycling

Clean film recycles better. Follow these steps:

1. Remove tape, labels, and contaminants — peel off shipping labels, packing tape, and any non-film materials

2. Keep it dry and clean — film that's been sitting in a wet loading dock or contaminated with product residue won't be accepted

3. Bundle or bale it — loose film tangles and jams equipment. Collect it in a gaylord, compact it, or bale it if you have the equipment

4. Separate by type — if you're also recycling bubble wrap or other films, keep them separate unless your recycler says otherwise

Most commercial recyclers want film delivered in a form they can handle — think compressed bales or densely packed gaylords, not garbage bags stuffed with loose wrap.

Why Stretch Film Can't Go in the Blue Cart

This rule applies to both residential and commercial blue cart service. If you're a business using city waste service, don't toss stretch wrap in your recycling container — it'll contaminate the load.

What Happens to Recycled Stretch Film

Clean LDPE film (the plastic used in stretch wrap) gets recycled into:

• New plastic film and bags — including more stretch wrap and shipping materials

• Composite lumber — Trex decking and similar products use recycled film as a raw material

• Plastic pellets — reprocessed into new products like trash bags, agricultural film, and packaging

The recycling process involves shredding the film, washing it to remove contaminants, melting it down, and extruding it into pellets that manufacturers can use as feedstock.

GreenWay Can Help with Commercial Film Recycling

If you manage a warehouse, distribution center, or retail operation that generates pallet wrap and stretch film regularly, GreenWay Recycles can connect you with the right recycling solution. We work with Chicago-area businesses to set up commercial film recycling programs that fit your volume and logistics.

Call us at (773) 522-0025 to discuss your needs. We'll help you figure out the most cost-effective way to keep stretch wrap out of the landfill — whether that's setting up a pickup program, connecting you with a processor, or advising on how to prep and transport your material.