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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
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Hobbies and Crafts
Crafts
Creative Reuse and Repurposing
Plastic Reuse
How to Organize Plastic Bags Download Article Co-authored by Robert Rybarski
Last Updated: May 6, 2025
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Repurposing Old Containers
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Minimizing Space Usage
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Tips
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Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Robert Rybarski. Robert Rybarski is an Organizational Specialist and Co-Owner of Conquering Clutter, a business that customizes closets, garages, and plantation shutters to ensure organized homes and lifestyles. Robert has over 23 years of consulting and sales experience in the organization industry. His business is based in Southern California. This article has been viewed 63,608 times.
If you go shopping for groceries often, plastic grocery bags can quickly accumulate into a mess and become hard to manage. Plastic bags can take up a lot of space and potentially create a lot of waste, but they are also easy to recycle and can be repurposed for a variety of uses. By making a dedicated container for the plastic bags and learning to store them compactly, you can avoid the clutter and have an efficient way to access the plastic bags whenever you need them or are ready to recycle them.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Repurposing Old Containers
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1 Make sure the bags are clean and dry before storing them. Throw away any plastic bags that are covered in food particles, as these will become unsanitary and might lead to unpleasant odors. Bags should be dry and free from food waste before being taken to a recycling facility.
Anything made out of plastic film, like bread bags, dry cleaning wraps, bags that newspapers come in, and cereal box liners, can usually be recycled alongside plastic grocery bags.[1]XResearch source
If you aren’t sure what your local recycling facilities will accept, call them and ask what’s okay to recycle.
2 Use an empty tissue box for easy access. One of the easiest no-hassle ways to store plastic bags is to stuff them into an old tissue box.[2]XResearch source The opening at the top of the box makes it easy to insert new bags and to take them out as you use them. Advertisement
3 Repurpose an old shoe box if you need to store a larger number of bags. If you have an old shoebox, you can store it at the bottom of a cabinet and use it as a container for plastic bags. Some people find the sight of loose plastic bags displeasing, and a shoe box will keep the plastic bags hidden from plain view.
4 Store bags in another plastic bag for convenience. Compress bags into a ball and store them in another bag, then tie off the storage bag at the top. This keeps the bags together in one place and makes it easy to recycle them. When you’re ready to take them to be recycled, you can easily grab a bag of bags and take it with you.
5 Consider using a plastic or metal basket. If you have an extra basket that can hang on the side of a cabinet, you can store many bags in it before it becomes full. You can also use an old container of cleaning wipes or a plastic filing box as a container.[3]XResearch source
If you think it’s worth the investment, you can buy containers specially-made for plastic bags from home goods stores like Ikea.
You can also hang baskets using a wall slat system.[4]X Expert Source Robert RybarskiOrganizational SpecialistExpert Interview
Make sure whatever container you use is clean, dry, and free from sharp edges that could damage the bags, especially if you plan on reusing them.
6 Keep your container tucked away, but easily accessible. You might prefer to keep the container out of sight if you prefer not to have the plastic bags in plain view. It’s common to store your plastic bags in a cabinet, in the laundry area, or on the floor of the pantry.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Minimizing Space Usage
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1 Tie the bags into knots. Tying the bags into knots is a great way to reduce the amount of space they take up. An easy way to make a knot is to fold them lengthwise and make a simple overhand knot.
Once they’re knotted, you can store them in your container of choice until you’re ready to use them.
Whenever you need one, just take out a knotted bag and untie the knot.
2 Fold the bags into triangles for a crafty alternative. Plastic bags can be folded into compact triangles that make them more visually appealing and easy to store. It takes a bit more effort than balling them up or tying them into knots, but turning them into triangles can add some fun to the task. Think of it as a craft instead of a chore.
3 Fold them into stackable squares. Straighten the two handles and lay flat on a hard surface. Fold the bottom upwards onto the top half, and fold from left to right.
4 Roll the bags into a cylinder if you want to keep them all together. Lay several bags flat on a hard surface, roll them into a cylinder, and then tie them together with another bag or a rubber band. This will keep all of the bags together and makes it so you only have one item to keep track of.
5 Regularly recycle and reuse your bags. There are several ways to recycle your newly-organized plastic bags. Most curbside recycling programs don’t accept plastic grocery bags, but you can usually drop them off at a grocery store or a similar retail location like Walmart or Target.
Get creative! You can reuse the bags as trash liners, wrapping for delicate items, pillowcase stuffing, and much more.
If you notice that your containers start accumulating a lot of bags, it might be time to make a recycling trip.
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
Try making it a regular habit to take excess plastic bags with you when you go grocery shopping so you can recycle them. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
If you don't have a lot of space, use a smaller container that can be easily stowed away, then recycle bags whenever the container gets full. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings
Different areas have different recycling policies, and not all facilities accept the same kinds of plastic bags and foils. Check with your local recycling center if you aren't sure what they can accept. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
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↑ Robert Rybarski. Organizational Specialist. Expert Interview
About This Article
Co-authored by: Robert Rybarski Organizational Specialist This article was co-authored by Robert Rybarski. Robert Rybarski is an Organizational Specialist and Co-Owner of Conquering Clutter, a business that customizes closets, garages, and plantation shutters to ensure organized homes and lifestyles. Robert has over 23 years of consulting and sales experience in the organization industry. His business is based in Southern California. This article has been viewed 63,608 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 17Updated: May 6, 2025 Views: 63,608 Categories: Plastic ReuseArticle SummaryX
If you’ve got cupboards full of old plastic bags, you can use a few tricks to keep them organized. One easy method is to stuff your bags into an old tissue box so you can easily pull one out when you need it. You can also store a lot of bags inside a shoe box, or simply store them inside another plastic bag. Alternatively, get a basket that’s designed for storing plastic bags from a home accessories store. These hang on the side of a cabinet and give you easy access to your bags. If you have more bags than you can store, take the extras to a grocery store that recycles old bags next time you go. For more tips, including how to fold your plastic bags to take up less space, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Robert Rybarski Organizational Specialist Co-authors: 17Updated: May 6, 2025 Views: 63,608100% of readers found this article helpful. 3 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
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Download Article Co-authored by Robert Rybarski 
11 Creative & Organized Ways to Store Jigsaw Puzzles 
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Co-authored by: Robert Rybarski Organizational Specialist This article was co-authored by Robert Rybarski. Robert Rybarski is an Organizational Specialist and Co-Owner of Conquering Clutter, a business that customizes closets, garages, and plantation shutters to ensure organized homes and lifestyles. Robert has over 23 years of consulting and sales experience in the organization industry. His business is based in Southern California. This article has been viewed 63,608 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 17 Updated: May 6, 2025 Views: 63,608 Categories: Plastic Reuse Article SummaryX
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1 Make sure the bags are clean and dry before storing them. Throw away any plastic bags that are covered in food particles, as these will become unsanitary and might lead to unpleasant odors. Bags should be dry and free from food waste before being taken to a recycling facility. 
2 Use an empty tissue box for easy access. One of the easiest no-hassle ways to store plastic bags is to stuff them into an old tissue box.[2] The opening at the top of the box makes it easy to insert new bags and to take them out as you use them. Advertisement 
3 Repurpose an old shoe box if you need to store a larger number of bags. If you have an old shoebox, you can store it at the bottom of a cabinet and use it as a container for plastic bags. Some people find the sight of loose plastic bags displeasing, and a shoe box will keep the plastic bags hidden from plain view. 
4 Store bags in another plastic bag for convenience. Compress bags into a ball and store them in another bag, then tie off the storage bag at the top. This keeps the bags together in one place and makes it easy to recycle them. When you’re ready to take them to be recycled, you can easily grab a bag of bags and take it with you. 
5 Consider using a plastic or metal basket. If you have an extra basket that can hang on the side of a cabinet, you can store many bags in it before it becomes full. You can also use an old container of cleaning wipes or a plastic filing box as a container.[3] 
6 Keep your container tucked away, but easily accessible. You might prefer to keep the container out of sight if you prefer not to have the plastic bags in plain view. It’s common to store your plastic bags in a cabinet, in the laundry area, or on the floor of the pantry. Advertisement 
1 Tie the bags into knots. Tying the bags into knots is a great way to reduce the amount of space they take up. An easy way to make a knot is to fold them lengthwise and make a simple overhand knot. 
2 Fold the bags into triangles for a crafty alternative. Plastic bags can be folded into compact triangles that make them more visually appealing and easy to store. It takes a bit more effort than balling them up or tying them into knots, but turning them into triangles can add some fun to the task. Think of it as a craft instead of a chore. 
3 Fold them into stackable squares. Straighten the two handles and lay flat on a hard surface. Fold the bottom upwards onto the top half, and fold from left to right. 
4 Roll the bags into a cylinder if you want to keep them all together. Lay several bags flat on a hard surface, roll them into a cylinder, and then tie them together with another bag or a rubber band. This will keep all of the bags together and makes it so you only have one item to keep track of. 
5 Regularly recycle and reuse your bags. There are several ways to recycle your newly-organized plastic bags. Most curbside recycling programs don’t accept plastic grocery bags, but you can usually drop them off at a grocery store or a similar retail location like Walmart or Target. 
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