Can plastic bags be recycled?
The High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic shopping bags used in supermarkets and other retailers can be recycled by taking them back to the supermarket for collection and recycling. The thicker Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) bags used mostly in department and boutique stores are not currently able to be recycled through the supermarket schemes. The best action is to avoid accepting them and use your reusable bag instead. Biodegradable bags are made of different chemicals to non-degradable plastic shopping bags and cannot be placed in supermarket plastic bag recycling bins. Important Note: Plastic bags cannot be recycled through your council’s kerbside recycling service and should not be placed in the bins as they are the main contaminant of kerbside recycling.
