Tucson's Plastic Bag Ordinance

In November 2012, the Mayor and City Council adopted the Plastic Bag Ordinance requiring retailers in Tucson to work with the community to reduce the consumption and use of single-use plastic bags, and to increase the number of plastic bags being returned to the retailers for recycling.

To work toward these goals, grocers and retailers in Tucson have set up bins in their stores to collect plastic bags which are then recycled. Plastic bags are recycled into many different products. Most plastic bags are used to make composite lumber, but they can also be used to manufacture more bags, crates, pallets and plastic pipes.

Where you can recycle:

  • Albertson's
  • Basha's
  • Food City
  • Fry's
  • Safeway
  • Sprouts
  • Target
  • Walgreen's
  • Walmart

What you can recycle:

Plastic Recycling Poster

Look for the recycling bins in the front of the store and check back here for updates on how we are doing!

Summary Report on Plastic Bag Recycling - June 30, 2014 - September 30, 2014
Number of single use plastic bags given out by participating stores 21,753,995
Tons of single use plastic bags recycled 69
Average number of plastic bags given to customers per transaction 2.33


Summary Report on Plastic Bag Recycling - April 1, 2014 -June30, 2014
Number of single use plastic bags given out by participating stores 27,377,770
Tons of single use plastic bags recycled 89
Average number of plastic bags given to customers per transaction 2.34


Summary Report on Plastic Bag Recycling - January 1, 2014 - March31, 2014
Number of single use plastic bags given out by participating stores 65,221,898
Tons of single use plastic bags recycled 204
Average number of plastic bags given to customers per transaction 2.45


Summary Report on Plastic Bag Recycling - October 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Number of single use plastic bags given out by participating stores 20,463,713*
Tons of single use plastic bags recycled 26*
Average number of plastic bags given to customers per transaction 2.39*
*Numbers from Wal-Mart are not included as they were not received for reporting.


Summary Report on Plastic Bag Recycling - July 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013
Number of single use plastic bags given out by participating stores 51,950,450
Tons of single use plastic bags recycled 71*
Average number of plastic bags given to customers per transaction 2.25
*Represents actual tons of plastic bags recycled. Unlike the 1st period report, film plastic was not included in this number and no conversion factor was applied.