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
Plastic mailing bag
Also called: mailing bag, poly mailer, polymailer, courier bag, postage bag, postal 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
- Reuse it first: a clean mailing bag can post another parcel or a return
- Peel off the address label, or scribble out your name and address
- Take it to a supermarket soft plastic point (the sign should say bags and wrapping)
- A padded bag with a bubble lining is a padded envelope, and a bag marked compostable or biodegradable goes in general waste: neither is plastic film
Where to take it
Place data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Get the app
Snap a photo instead of typing, and get a reminder the evening before bin day.
National rules
The answer isn't the same in every UK nation. Choose your council to see the one that applies to you.
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
Rules in the rest of the UK
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
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.