How to Recycle Cereal Bags

In layman's terms, "recycling" something means that you allow its raw material to pass back through the production cycle and become something else. Common recyclables include cardboard, glass, metal and, of course, plastic. Although you might not think about it as you have your breakfast, there are two recyclable materials contained in your cereal box -- the cardboard exterior and the plastic bag inside which the cereal itself sits. As an alternative, you can opt to reuse the bag rather than dispose of it at all.

Remove the empty bag from within the box and pour out any remaining cereal. Although having a small amount of debris won't prevent your bag from being accepted at the recycling center, keep in mind that someone else will have to take care of any preparations you don't make yourself.

Call your local recycling center to make sure they accept plastics of "Code 2." According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the resin-coding system, which began in 1988, helps municipal waste managers track and target different types of plastic. Plastic cereal liners are made of polyethylene, which is slightly denser than ordinary plastic bags, hence the special coding. Store these bags separately and bring them to the recycling center when you're ready to dispose of them.

Re-use your cereal bag if your recycling center doesn't accept "Code 2" plastics. As is the case with any plastic bag, you can use the cereal bag for several purposes. After filling the bag with your choice of herbs and spices, place meat or vegetables inside it and shake to coat. Alternatively, you can use the cereal bag in cooking, whether as a place for hot, baked items to cool or as a wrapping for foods you need to microwave.