Answers.Body: <p>According to <a href="http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/1274/recycling-lego-plastic-bags-5" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this bricksetforum thread</a> (and also true of the LEGO sets we have around right now) the LEGO bags are <a href="http://www.babygreenthumb.com/p-122-safe-plastic-numbers-guide.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">#5 plastic</a> which is accepted by <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/list" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Whole Foods</a> and some municipal recycling services.</p>
  <p><a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/452/is-there-a-logic-to-the-way-the-lego-group-fills-the-plastic-bags">This thread</a>
  has interesting commentary on bag packing considerations.  Not surprisingly LEGO Group is optimizing for efficiency and dependability.  The bags and their weight also affect the QA process which includes weighing the bags.</p>
  <h2>2021 update - the future is getting here</h2>
  <p>LEGO is <a href="https://www.greenmatters.com/p/legor-plastic-bags-paper" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reportedly moving to paper bags</a>.  This is a double win of going with a renewable resource and wider recycling availability.  LEGO themselves have a page on their <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/sustainable-packaging/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sustainable packaging</a> that says:</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>We will begin to test paper bags in our boxes which means goodbye single use plastic and hello recycling bin! First, we will trial recyclable paper bags that are made from Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. They will be designed to help children understand the importance of recycling and ensure they have the best possible play experience. Our new bags will be phased in over a four-year period from 2021.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-10-24T01:14:50.067Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-04-16T18:13:03.130Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-04-16T18:13:03.130Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: chicks
Answers.Body: <p>No, the bags are actually not recyclable, and the bags aren't filled entirely because TLG wants the bags to be more flexible and loose,so they fit easily in the bags!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-11-03T01:16:28.957Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-11-03T01:16:28.957Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Samuel L.
Body: <p>Are the plastic bags inside the LEGO box recyclable?</p>
  
  <p>Also, why aren't the plastic bags inside the box not completely filled? If The LEGO Group didn't want it completely filled then why not decrease the bag size?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-09-28T01:40:41.577Z
Comments.Text: In 2020, LEGO is working on moving to paper bags to replace the single-use plastic.  https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/sustainable-packaging/
Comments.UserDisplayName: chicks
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-10-22T21:46:22.370Z
Comments.Text: Welcome to Stack Exchange! The people answering questions here are mere fans of LEGO, not actual LEGO employees - you'd do better asking your question via [the official LEGO support site](https://wwwsecure.us.lego.com/en-us/service). Good luck with your FLL challenge!
Comments.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-10-22T23:10:36.640Z
Comments.Text: I would say that they do this so that the bags don't pop open. This would be the most logical answer
Comments.UserDisplayName: llegobego
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-10-26T15:38:32.473Z
Comments.Text: Generally the question in the title and the question in the body should match. It makes it much easier to find answers when searching. This would be better asked as two questions.
Comments.UserDisplayName: VolleyJosh
Tags: <packaging>
Title: Are the plastic bags inside the LEGO box recyclable?
UserDisplayName: Fll Team 59
ThreadText: # Are the plastic bags inside the LEGO box recyclable?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-22)
  
  Are the plastic bags inside the LEGO box recyclable?
  
  Also, why aren't the plastic bags inside the box not completely filled? If The LEGO Group didn't want it completely filled then why not decrease the bag size?
  
  **Tags:** packaging
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Welcome to Stack Exchange! The people answering questions here are mere fans of LEGO, not actual LEGO employees - you'd do better asking your question via [the official LEGO support site](https://wwwsecure.us.lego.com/en-us/service). Good luck with your FLL challenge!  
  > **username_3**: I would say that they do this so that the bags don't pop open. This would be the most logical answer  
  > **username_4**: Generally the question in the title and the question in the body should match. It makes it much easier to find answers when searching. This would be better asked as two questions.  
  > **username_1**: In 2020, LEGO is working on moving to paper bags to replace the single-use plastic.  https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/sustainable-packaging/  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2015-10-24. Score: 11
  
  According to [this bricksetforum thread](http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/1274/recycling-lego-plastic-bags-5) (and also true of the LEGO sets we have around right now) the LEGO bags are [#5 plastic](http://www.babygreenthumb.com/p-122-safe-plastic-numbers-guide.aspx) which is accepted by [Whole Foods](http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/list) and some municipal recycling services.
  
  [This thread](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/452/is-there-a-logic-to-the-way-the-lego-group-fills-the-plastic-bags)
  has interesting commentary on bag packing considerations. Not surprisingly LEGO Group is optimizing for efficiency and dependability. The bags and their weight also affect the QA process which includes weighing the bags.
  
  ## 2021 update - the future is getting here
  
  LEGO is [reportedly moving to paper bags](https://www.greenmatters.com/p/legor-plastic-bags-paper). This is a double win of going with a renewable resource and wider recycling availability. LEGO themselves have a page on their [sustainable packaging](https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/sustainable-packaging/) that says:
  
  > We will begin to test paper bags in our boxes which means goodbye single use plastic and hello recycling bin! First, we will trial recyclable paper bags that are made from Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. They will be designed to help children understand the importance of recycling and ensure they have the best possible play experience. Our new bags will be phased in over a four-year period from 2021.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2015-11-03. Score: 2
  
  No, the bags are actually not recyclable, and the bags aren't filled entirely because TLG wants the bags to be more flexible and loose,so they fit easily in the bags!
  
  
  ---
  
  