Plastic Film
Recycle at home
Recycle out of home
Yes, Plastic Film can be recycled at some out of home recycling points.
If you’re unable to take your plastic film items to an out of home recycling point and you need to dispose of these at home, please place all the examples listed below (across both lists) inside your bag or bin for non-recyclable waste.
Which types of plastic film can be recycled out of home?
The types of plastic film accepted at out of home recycling points may vary between different locations. For example, one supermarket may accept some plastic film types, while another store may reject those same items, therefore please follow the guidance provided by the organisation managing the recycling point.
Plastic film types accepted at out of home recycling points might include:
All plastic bags, except biodegradable or compostable bags;
Bread bags;
Breakfast cereal liners;
Shrink wrap and ring joiners from multipacks of water, cans and other items;
Frozen food bags for frozen vegetables, chips and other foods;
Dry cleaning bags or bags covering new clothing;
Magazine and newspaper plastic wrappers;
Bags for loose fruit and vegetables;
Bubble wrap;
Crisp packets;
Plastic marked as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) – resin ID code 4;
Plastic bread bags;
Plastic wrapping from can/bottle/crisps multipacks;
Plastic wrapping from toilet/kitchen roll packs;
Plastic freezer bags;
Plastic salad bags;
Plastic packaging from online orders;
Pasta and rice bags;
Cat and dog dry food bags;
Garden compost and topsoil bags.
Plastic film types likely NOT to be accepted at out of home recycling points might include:
Any dirty bags or film, for example containing food;
Any non-Polyethylene film (such as PP, PVC, others);
Cling film;
Compostable and biodegradable bags and film;
Film lids from ready meal trays and pots;
Food, drink and pet food pouches;
Wrappers from bakeries, such as bags with lots of small holes in them;
Plastic frozen food bags;
Chocolate/sweet wrappers and biscuit packets;
Plastic netting used to package fruit and vegetables;
Plastic punched pockets, commonly known as 'Poly Pockets';
Polystyrene.
Good to know
If you choose to take your plastic film items to an out of home recycling point, please make sure:
all items are clean and free of food; and
tear off any sticky labels where possible.
Compostable and biodegradable bags are not designed to be recycled with other plastics, and if they enter the recycling system they can potentially negatively affect the quality of the recycled material. If you need to get rid of these items, and you don’t have your own compost bin or heap, please place these inside your bag or bin for non-recyclable waste.