Can it be recycled?
How to recycle carrier bags
check locally
Carrier bags are rarely collected as part of local authority kerbside collections, but many supermarkets now accept them as well as some local recycling centres.
How do I recycle them?
Some supermarkets now offer instore recycling banks for carrier bags or the option to hand the bags back to the driver if your shopping is delivered to your home.
- Sainsburys - with the exception of the small local stores, recycling banks can be found at all Sainsbury's stores.
- Tesco - Have instore collection points in some stores
- Somerfield - Have collection points in a number of stores
Why not check out your local supermarket the next time you visit? The bins are normally located by the main entrance doors.
What else can I do with them?
- We can all easily reduce the amount of carrier bags that are used by reusing them as many times as possible. Putting the worn out plastic bags in supermarket recycling points means they are collected specifically for specialist recycling and can then be turned into something new.
- If you are looking for suitable reusable bags, why not go for a small foldaway bag for those unexpected purchases?
Tip: If you are doing your grocery shopping online and don’t want carrier bags, remember to ask to not receive them with your delivery; alternatively why not give the used bags to the driver who may be able to return them to the supermarket for recycling.
What are carrier bags made from?
Although carrier bags today use 70% less plastic than they did 20 years ago, most are still made from polyethylene, a kind of plastic which is non-degradable. This kind of plastic takes a long time to break down, possibly up to hundreds of years.
