Goodwill Industries of San Diego County is expanding a recycling program for soft plastics, giving East County residents another place to bring materials that are often excluded from curbside recycling, according to The East County Californian.

The nonprofit is accepting clean, dry soft plastics at select donation centers across San Diego and Imperial counties. The materials will be sorted, baled and sent to a specialized recycling partner that turns them into durable products such as decking and patio furniture.

Soft plastics include grocery and retail bags, plastic film and wrap, bubble wrap, air pillows, newspaper sleeves and some packaging overwrap. Goodwill officials told The East County Californian those materials can interfere with traditional recycling equipment if they are mixed into regular curbside bins.

East County drop-off locations listed by the publication include Goodwill sites in El Cajon at 420 N. 2nd St., 2650 Jamacha Road and 13588 Camino Canada, plus La Mesa locations at 8250 La Mesa Blvd. and 3713 Avocado Blvd.

Residents are asked to bring only clean, dry and flexible plastic materials. Wet, dirty or rigid plastics can contaminate the stream and may not be recyclable through the program.