Cereal Bags & Box Liners In-Store Drop-Off with Plastic Bags Cereal bags and box liners should be returned to large retail stores and placed in their designated “film plastics” recycling bins. CLICK HERE to find a film plastics drop-off location nearest you. CLICK HERE to learn about other items that are considered “film plastics” and that are accepted for recycling at store drop-off locations. Tears Like Paper? Not Recyclable If a cereal box liner tears like paper, then it isn’t made from plastic #2, and it cannot be recycled with plastic bags. Either reuse it or throw it in the trash. Empty the Crumbs When recycling plastic bags, they should always be clean of all food, so dump the crumbs out of your cereal bag before recycling. Ways to Reuse Wax Paper Substitute Plastic cereal bags work well as wax paper for tasks like separating burger patties, rolling out cookie dough or pie crusts, and drying chocolate-dipped candies.