Stores that Recycle Plastic (and other stuff) in our Area

A dedicated group from Care for Our Common - Laudato Si at St Teresa of Avila Catholic Church (aided by members of the PPoFT Plastics/Climate Action Group) has spearheaded the task of determining which places in the Auburn accept plastic for recycling. You can also click here and enter your zip code to find a bag and film drop off location, and here to get more information about what types of bags and films they will collect. Here is what we know so far:

best buy

Although the recycling program at Best Buy is not specifically for plastic, it does accept electronics, appliances, and fitness equipment for recycling - all of which contain plastic parts. Some of the recycling is for free, some for a fee. Click here to learn more.

JL REcycling

JL Recycling is located behind Raley’s in Auburn (13384 Lincoln Way). It recycles California Refund Value (CRV) plastic, glass, and aluminum cans.

Home Depot

The recycling receptacle at Home Depot in Auburn (11755 Willow Creek Drive) is located inside the store to the right, shortly after you enter. They accept:

plastic grocery bags & plastic shopping bags
compact fluorescent lightbulbs (unbroken - indoor or outdoor)
rechargeable batteries (non-leaking) used in cell phones, power tools and lap tops (Nickel-Cadmium, Lithium-ion, Small sealed lead acid, Nickel Metal Hydride, Nickel Zinc)

household batteries (in Auburn, the household batteries are collected in tubs near the check out counters.

The Home Depot in Lincoln (1000 Groveland Lane) has the same recycling bins, except that the household batteries bin is located with the other bins, as shown here.

Recycling receptacles at Home Depot in Lincoln

A lone recycling bin at Raley’s in Lincoln.

Raley’s/Bel AiR

Raley’s/BelAir stores in the Auburn area do not accept plastic from its customers for recycling. However, they may recycle batteries. Raley’s in Granite Bay and in Folsom do participate in a bag and film recycling program.

Smart and Final

Smart and Final has no options for recycling plastic.

Staples

Although Staples has no options for recycling plastic, it will accept used ink cartridges, along with many other items (see photo below to the left). To located the ink cartridge recycling bins in the Auburn store, turn left as you enter the store, the boxes are against the wall, as shown below to the right.

Boxes for recyling ink cartridges at Staples in Auburn.

Roseville Refillery

The Village General Store & Refillery located at 500 Vernon Street in Roseville, offers opportunities for recycling a variety of items (and also offers many plastic-free products for purchase). As of January 2023, it is no longer accepting plastic for the NexTrex program (people were bringing the wrong kind of plastic and it became too onerous for the owner to sort out).

Box for razors and blades / Terracycle box for flexible plastic snack pouches and caps

ReCORK recycling bin, box for household batteries, and a bin for recycling old keys

Safeway

The Safeway in Auburn (2550 Bell Road) has a small card board recycling box outside the store for customers to return their plastic grocery bags. It is in a corner and hard to see. Not able to determine what happens to the plastic once it is collected, however corporate Safeway does participate in the NexTrex plastic bags and films program, so more than grocery bags may possibly be recycled here. Click here to learn more about the NexTrex program. In searching for plastic film and bag drop-off locations, the Auburn Safeway was not listed, however Safeway stores in Grass Valley, Roseville (989 Sunrise Ave.), and Placerville were listed.

Click here for a pdf of accepted plastic.

The pharmacy (at the back of the store) has bin to collect prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Receptacle for plastic bags at Safeway in Auburn.

Bin to collect unused and expired drugs in the Auburn Safeway (by the Pharmacy)

Savemart

The Savemart in Auburn also has a plastic bag recycling bin outside its main entrance (the righthand entrance as you face the building). The plastic is packaged up and shipped to their warehouse where it is ultimately shipped to NexTrex as part of their commercial plastic bags and film program, so more than grocery bags may possibly be recycled here. Click here to learn more about the plastics accepted for the NexTrex program.

Starbucks

Starbucks (this one at 1790 Auburn Ravine Rd) has receptacles to dispose of waste from their products in the form of landfill, compost, and plastic/paper/glass/aluminum.

winco

Plastic bags at the Winco in Rocklin (3835 Atherton Road) are recycled by Novolex. Barrels in the store by the exit and that state Novalex will recycle bags into new plastic bags. They accept

Plastic bags (empty and dry)
Newspaper bags
Produce and bread bags
Bottle overwrap
All bags labeled with revolving arrows as 2 or 4

Winco stores in Orangevale and Folsom, also participate in a bag and film recycling program.

Recycling receptacles at Winco in Rocklin.

Auburn Interfaith food closet

If you have spare shopping bags (paper or plastic) and clean bread-type bags to package goods for their clients. Bring them to the Auburn Interfaith Foot Closet (1788 Auburn Ravine Rd.).

Learn More about the NexTrex Recycling Program

At the corporate level, Safeway, Save Mart, and Winco participate in the Commercial Plastic Film and Bag Recycling program offered by Trex Decking. However, we need to check with individual stores to make sure that they are taking advantage of this recycling opportunity. Other groups may have NexTrex boxes as well through their School and Community Recycling program. Trex is looking for #2 and #4 polyethylene films (clear, color, or print), which would include:

Grocery bags - Stretch film and pallet wrap - Plastic mailer bags - Case overwrap - Bread bags - Paper towel/toilet tissue overwrap - Bubble wrap - Air pillows - Dry cleaning bags - Cereal box liners - Produce bags - Newspaper sleeves - Furniture foam wrap - Ziploc or food storage bags - Salt bags - Pellet bags - Ice bags - Mattress bags

Participating stores send the plastic they collect to a regional collection center or warehouse where it is packaged and shipped in bulk to Trex. Trex pays the corporation for the plastic, which they then turn into Trex decking products. Presumably when we take our plastic bags and film to participating stores, it will be recycled. Here is a visual from NexTrex showing the types of plastic approved for their recycling program: