Where to recycle plastic bags and wrapping
Sort bread bags, delivery film and other soft plastics without contaminating your home recycling.
Look beyond the recycling triangle
A material code identifies plastic; it does not guarantee your household collection takes it. Check the recycling label and the accepting scheme’s list for bread bags, multipack wrap, delivery film and pouches.
Prepare a separate bag
Empty crumbs and food, remove receipts and keep the material dry. Some collection points accept a wider range of pouches than others. Do not include rigid trays, paper packaging or general rubbish in a soft-plastic collection.
Check what is available now
England’s Simpler Recycling guidance sets a 31 March 2027 collection requirement for plastic film and bags. That is not a reason to assume your council accepts them today. Other UK nations have their own systems.
Compostable is a different material route
Biodegradable and compostable bags are not suitable for the conventional carrier-bag recycling described by Recycle Now. Ask the scheme if a label is unclear.
See polystyrene packaging and food cartons for common mix-ups.
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