| Here are some answers to environmental questions consumers frequently ask us:
Q: Can Frito-Lay packages be recycled?
A: Yes. Flexible plastic bags may be recycled into other products such as a wood substitute, which may be used for park benches, landscape decking, boat docks, and the like. For example, Frito-Lay bags have been used to make plastic trays at KFC restaurants in the United States.
For recycling to be successful, recyclable materials must be separated and collected. Cans, paper and glass bottles tend to be more popular recyclable items than plastic. However, as more cities require and provide for separation of trash, opportunities for the use of recycled plastic will grow. For more information about the feasibility of starting plastic recycling, we suggest contacting your local city sanitation department.
Q: Which Frito-Lay packages can be recycled?
A: Frito-Lay items that can be recycled include:
- Dip cans - may be recycled in communities where aluminum is recycled
- Outer lid of dip can - may be recycled with other plastics
- Inner steel lid of dip can - may be recycled where steel items are recycled
- Salsa and dip jars - may be recycled as clear glass
- Salsa and dip jar lids - may be recycled where steel items are recycled
- Lay’s Stax can and lid - may be recycled
Q: Why isn't Frito-Lay packaging degradable?
A: At this time, most plastics are still disposed of in landfills. Government studies show that due to the lack of oxygen, moisture and bacteria in most landfills, even the most degradable materials, such as food, take many years to decompose. Many landfills now are being designed to keep out moisture and oxygen so that the degradable products do not seep into groundwater systems. At Frito-Lay, we believe that implementing recycling programs and decreasing the amount of solid waste produced are more viable solutions.
Q: There is a lot of excess space in your packages. Can you reduce the packaging?
A: There is actually a very good reason for the excess space in our snack packages: The air at the top of the packages provides a "cushion" that protects the fragile chips against breakage in shipment and handling. Years of testing have resulted in this packaging technique, which protects the chips from breakage. However, we are committed to decreasing the amount of solid waste produced.
We have made some changes to decrease the amount of packaging material:
- Lay’s brand and Ruffles brand potato chips, once packaged in composite plastic bags, now are packaged in metallized plastic bags. This results in a 25% reduction of weight in the packaging material used for these two products and a reduction of more than 6 million pounds of packaging material per year from being placed in landfills.
- Fritos brand corn chips has reduced the bag seal from the industry standard ½ inch to ¼ inch. This adjustment has resulted in a 5% reduction in Fritos packaging material from our landfills each year. We also are investigating reducing the seals on other chip products.
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