> (in the case of plastic grocery bags) gets explicitly taken back to a grocery store for recycling. 1. How do we know that the stores actually recycle the ite

> (in the case of plastic grocery bags) gets explicitly taken back to a grocery store for recycling. 1. How do we know that the stores actually recycle the items we give them? There are many accounts around the web that most of this stuff (plastic bags, plastic shipping material, batteries, bulbs, ...) is just emptied into a regular dumpster instead of being properly disposed. Have things changed? Do retailers have internal audits for this or is this just empty marketing? 2. Even if the plastic bags are picked up a 3rd party, is it actually recycled or just dumped? Plastic bags are very difficult to recycle and only a few facilities in the country are able to process them properly. Are they somehow shipped to these facilities? I'm normally hesistant whenever there are new regulations. However, I totally support the mandated purchase of plastic bags. Someone can prove me wrong but I feel that environmental conservation tends to be better controlled and encouraged by pricing instead of just marketing.