Where to Recycle Bulk Bags in the UK

Bulk bags are one of your most eco-friendly packaging options (if you use and dispose of them the right way) as they’re made from polypropylene (PP) – safe for you to recycle time and again.

You can recycle most bulk bags – but there are a few key things that’ll decide if yours can be processed or not:

Cleanliness: Your bags need to be free from any hazardous residues like cement, chemicals or fertiliser.
Type of plastic: Most are PP5, which is widely recyclable – just check the label or with your supplier.
Contamination: If your bag’s been exposed to food, oil or chemical waste, it might need handling in a different way.

(Find out how they’re made: How are FIBC Bulk Bags Made?)

Where To Recycle Bulk Bags In The UK

You’ve got a few options:

Supplier take-back schemes will set you up with a closed-loop recycling or bag return programme.
Specialist plastic recyclers will collect and sort your bulk bags. They’ll also process them and give you all the waste transfer documents you need.
Agricultural waste schemes collect farm plastics, including FIBCs, across the UK. If you’re based in an area that has one, they might take your bulk bags for recycling, so it’s well worth checking.
Commercial waste contractors can add FIBCs to your business waste collection plan. But remember to check if they take woven PP.
Local Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) are a good option if you have only a few clean bags. You can check your area to see what they’ll take: Recycle Now locator tool.

Bulk Bag Grading & Recycling

Bulk bags are grouped into grades based on how they’re made, how clean they are, and how worn they are:

Type	Description	Can it be recycled?
Grade A	Clean, bright white, coloured stitching and handles.	Yes
Grade B	Less clean, duller white, minimal stitching.	Yes
Grade C	Dirty or coloured bags	No

How Bulk Bags Are Recycled

Recycling FIBCs is pretty straightforward:

Sorting: Your bags are separated into Grades A, B, and C at the recycling centre or waste-to-energy plant.
Collection: Any of your recyclable bags are baled by type and taken to specialist recycling centres.
Washing: Your bags are washed in a tank with a cleaning solution to take out any contaminants.
Shredding: A bladed machine shreds your cleaned bags into small pieces.
Pelleting: The shredded plastic gets melted, pushed through to form tubes, then cut into pellets.

If your bag can’t be recycled, it’ll usually go to a waste-to-energy plant where it’s burned to generate electricity. So it’s still a pretty green outcome – helping to cut landfill and produce energy.

Tips For Recycling Bulk Bags

Keep your bags dry so they don’t get mouldy or damaged.
Empty them completely and remove as much dust, residue or product as you can.
Keep them separate from your other plastics like pallet wrap.
Label them with the PP5 symbol if you can.

Not sure what to do with your old bulk bags? Just talk to our team

And you can find out about our ‘no excuses’ commitment to sustainability here.

Speak to our experts today