Plastic bag recycling effort begins in Duluth

Two environmental organizations are kicking off an effort Wednesday to bring plastic bag recycling and recycling receptacles for cans and bottles to grocery stores in Duluth.

The Recycling Association of Minnesota offers bottle-shaped receptacles for can and bottle recycling away from home. And Minnesota Waste Wise is bringing its plastic bag recycling program to Duluth.

Both programs begin in Duluth on Wednesday, and organizers plan events at SuperOne Foods and The Little Store to raise awareness about the new recycling programs.

The recycling programs are already active in the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Mankato and Hutchinson.

Organizers said the bottle and can recycling program has collected more than 500,000 pounds of beverage containers and plastics. The bag recycling program has recycled more than 5.5 million pounds of plastic bags and shrink film.

The programs will likely expand to other cities in Minnesota through a grant from a U.S. Department of Agriculture program focusing on solid waste management in rural areas.

Ellen Telander, executive director of the Recycling Association of Minnesota, said the programs are usually able to become self-sustaining in 6 to 12 months.