Contest rules and FAQs
What kind of plastic bags are accepted for the Plastic Bag Grab challenge?
Acceptable for the challenge: carry out plastic shopping bags.
Non-acceptable for this challenge: food storage bags, clear produce bags, frozen food bags, milk bags, snack bags, sandwich bags, drycleaning bags, resealable bags, plastic film packaging, or anything that is not a carry out plastic shopping bag.
Where do I bring plastic bags?
We anticipate a lot of plastic bags! To help us manage drop-off, schools must choose a Walmart based on location when registering. Walmart stores will be ready to accept plastic bags from Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24.
The following time slots are available for drop-off. When registering your school, you will be required to select a drop-off date and time-slot.
- Morning (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
- Afternoon (12 p.m. – 5 p.m.)
- Evening (5 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
Please bring your plastic bags to customer service and an associate will be happy to help you. If you don’t have a Walmart near you, please contact us.
How do I bring the plastic bags?
Stuff as many plastic bags into a plastic bag and bring them to Walmart.
Our school is not interested or able to collect bags for recycling. Can we still participate?
Absolutely! All registered schools that participate in any reduction/recycling activities (collection OR community engagement) for the Plastic Bag Grab challenge and submit a final submission form are eligible to receive prizes.
How are winners chosen?
Collection Participation Prizes
All schools who register to participate in the Plastic Bag Grab 2020 will be entered into a draw to win regardless of the number of bags reduced and/or collected. The draw rewards participation and provides for an equal opportunity for ALL schools to be recognized.
All registered schools that participate in any reduction/recycling activities and submit a final submission form will be entered into the draw.
3Rs Community Engagement Prize & Social Media Prizes
Post creative and educational photos or videos to Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook using #PlasticBagGrab. A team of judges that are most impressed with a school’s effort on the 3Rs will determine winners.
The final submission form will also include questions related to plastic bag reduction initatives which will be included in the juding process for the 3Rs Community Engagement prize.
How does my school submit our Community Engagement/Social Media Submissions?
Post your school's videos and photos on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtag #PlasticBagGrab. In the final submission form, you will also have the opportunity to provide further details regarding your submission.
If your school does not have social media, please send us an email for alternative submission options. The deadline to submit community engagement/social media submissions in May 8, 2020.
When will the prizes be distributed?
Fall 2020.
How will schools receive the prize money?
Recycling Council of Ontario will send cheques to the winning schools in Fall 2020
What can schools do with the prize money?
In the spirit of recycling we encourage schools to use their prize for environmental initiatives, and are welcome to use their winnings as they see fit.
What will happen to the plastic bags collected as part of the challenge?
In partnership with Trex, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking products made from recycled plastic, every bag collected as part of the challenge is processed and recycled in North America.
What kinds of products will the collected material be used for?
The plastic bags collected will be processed into plastic pellets that can used in the production of a variety of plastic products such as planter pots and plastic lumber through our partner Trex. All recycling is kept within North America.
Each year Trex benches are offered as prizes in each province. Check out some of benches won by schools across Canada through Plastic Bag Grab!
Left: W.F. Ready School, Regina SK
Right: Horace Allen School, Coleman AB
When can we collect the plastic bags? Can that be done before the collection week assigned?
Schools are free to promote the Plastic Bag Grab challenge, engage their community with 3Rs messaging, and collect materials as they see fit. While we do encourage schools to follow our suggested timeline from Monday, April 6 - Friday, April 17 for collection, it is up to them on how and when they manage and store the material. It is likely the same number of bags will be collected regardless of when they are actually brought into school.
I have another question that's not listed here.
Email us and we'll answer, and we'll add it to this page.
