Hefty will phase out its ReNew Orange Bag Program, in which consumers collect and return hard-to-recycle plastics, the company said this week.
“While participation has remained strong, the recycling infrastructure needed to consistently manage such a broad range of materials and align with community preferences has not developed at the pace or scale anticipated,” Hefty said. “As a result, Reynolds Consumer Products has made the decision to responsibly phase out the Hefty ReNew Program.
“This decision reflects the challenges of operating a program with such a broad material scope at the scale envisioned and does not diminish the commitment and enthusiasm shown by participating communities and residents.”
Hefty will discontinue distribution of the bags by the end of 2026, and collection will continue through June 30, 2027. After that date, consumers with unused bags can contact Hefty for return and refund instructions, and the company will coordinate “responsible processing” of any returned bags.
In Boise, Idaho, public officials commented on the development. “It’s disappointing to see the Orange Bag program come to an end after keeping approximately 2,000 tons of plastic out of our local landfill since 2018,” said Boise Public Works Director Steve Burgos. “It is even more critical now that we remain mindful of what we are buying and how much waste we are creating, as we work toward a resilient future.”
Reynolds Consumer Products, parent company of Hefty, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The bags had been subject to numerous lawsuits, most recently ending in a $212,000 settlement with the Arizona attorney general over claims that the bags themselves were recyclable.
