PCC Shoppers Turn Small Plastics Into Big Recycling Impact

Plastic twist ties and bread tags may be small, but they can add up to a lot of recycling.

A pilot recycling program at five PCC stores collected nearly 280 pounds of the plastic products over seven months. The difficult to recycle plastics, which also included scannable produce packaging and rubber band-like “ElastiTags,” are not accepted in most municipal recycling bins. Usually, they’re thrown away. Through the TagBack program, they are upcycled instead into products like decking, picnic tables and chairs. Bedford, a Minnesota-based company that manufactures twist ties and other packaging, oversees TagBack and also manufactures the plastic lumber.

PCC shipped 28 boxes to TagBack stuffed with the materials dropped off by PCC shoppers between May and December.

Mike Wenrick, PCC’s director of purpose, was gratified to see PCC customers divert so much waste from the landfill. It was no surprise, knowing that co-op shoppers are typically passionate about reducing plastic waste.

And there’s more good news: As of February 2026, Tagback dropoff containers are still available at three PCC stores: Ballard, Burien and Greenlake Village. PCC is investigating ways to expand the initial pilot to a more permanent benefit at more stores.

PCC recycling partners

Tagback is just one of many PCC initiatives and partnerships aimed at increased sustainability.

PCC’s packaging standard is online here and frequently asked questions about the standard are here. Interested in a sample of other PCC recycling initiatives and partners?

See how:

The Seattle Box Company made a recyclable plastic produce box.

Seadrunar Recycling keeps materials from the landfill while supporting treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, and collaborated with PCC on a successful plastic film take-back program at the end of 2024.

Ridwell reinvented recycling for a new era. (Note that Ridwell, a fee-based program, also collects plastic bread tags and other hard-to-recycle items like batteries and plastic film.)

Cedar Grove turns food and yard waste into garden gold.