Bread bag

Also called: Warburtons bag, loaf bag, bagel bag, crumpet bag

Drop-off point

National rules. Choose your council to see its answer.

Your council's answer

The answer can differ by council. Choose your council to see its rules for this item.

How to prepare it

  1. Shake out crumbs
  2. Take it to a supermarket soft plastic point
  3. Plastic tag clips go in general waste

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National rules

The answer isn't the same in every UK nation. Choose your council to see the one that applies to you.

England

Drop-off point

Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point.

Kerbside film collection is delayed to April 2030, so use supermarket soft plastic points.

Also: General waste

England-wide guidance, checked 26 Sep 2026. View the source

Scotland

Drop-off point

Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point.

Most councils don't collect film yet, so use supermarket soft plastic points; home collections are being rolled out.

Also: General waste

Scotland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

Wales

Drop-off point

Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point.

Check your council: some Welsh councils already collect plastic bags and wrapping from home, and all are due to by 2027; otherwise use supermarket soft plastic points.

Also: General waste

Wales-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

Northern Ireland

Drop-off point

Not in your home bins. Take it to a drop-off point.

NI councils don't take plastic bags or film in recycling bins, so use a supermarket soft plastics point or your general waste bin.

Also: General waste

Northern Ireland-wide guidance, checked 27 Sep 2026. View the source

How to recycle it

National schemes anyone in the UK can use.

National scheme

M&S in-store plastic take-back

Free · Return in store

M&S has plastic collection points in its own stores where you can return plastic packaging from any product, including types councils often refuse, such as crisp packets, yoghurt lids and multipack bags.

  1. Empty the packaging and shake out any crumbs
  2. Take it to the plastic collection point in an M&S store (ask a member of staff if you can't spot it)
  3. Packaging from other brands is fine; it doesn't have to have come from M&S

Find your nearest drop-off point Find your nearest M&S

Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com, checked 16 Oct 2026.

National scheme

Waitrose soft plastics recycling

Free · Return in store

Waitrose has soft plastics bins in 295 of its shops. They take cling film, bubble wrap, crisp, biscuit and chocolate wrappers, bread and frozen food bags, and baby and pet food pouches.

  1. Make sure it's clean and dry
  2. Check Waitrose's branch finder to see if your local shop has the bin
  3. Keep out compostable bags, bottles, pots, tubs and trays, and wrapping made of more than one material

Find your nearest drop-off point Find your nearest Waitrose

Source: johnlewispartnership.co.uk, checked 24 Oct 2026.

In our guides

Recycle This isn't run by or endorsed by any council or the government. Councils change their services, so check anything important with your council.