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Can I recycle chip bags?

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Most potato and tortilla chip bags are made from aluminum laminated with polypropylene, also known as metalized polypropylene, or low-density polyethylene film. They cannot be recycled in the city of Los Angeles’ blue bins because the component materials cannot be separated.

Some chip bags are labeled as compostable, but they cannot go in the city’s green bins because the bags do not break down quickly enough in the city’s composters. The bags cannot be recycled in the city’s blue bins either. The bags go into the black bins with the trash.

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Because policies and recommendations can vary from city to city, each week we ask a sampling of officials from various municipalities to weigh in. Can you recycle conventional metalized polypropylene and polyethylene chip bags in …

Burbank: No

Irvine: No

Long Beach: No

Los Angeles: No

Riverside: Yes

Santa Ana: No

Santa Monica: No

Torrance: No

Unincorporated L.A. County: No

Ventura: No

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Can I Recycle: The series

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-- Susan Carpenter

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