Using plastic bags in your food recycling

The bags are all separated from the food when it is delivered to the recycling plant. The food waste is then processed, creating renewable electricity, and at the end of the process the digested food waste gets spread to land as a nutrition-rich fertiliser

Plastic liners are usually cheaper and easier to obtain than compostable ones. Plastic bags are often stronger than compostable liners, so are less likely to split.

Residents should choose whatever method works best for them.

You should use:

• plastic bags from on a roll, (for example pedal bin liners)
• carrier bags 
• thin plastic bags (for example fridge and freezer storage bags)
• bags that food has come in (for example bread bags, salad bags and cereal bags)
• compostable bags
• newspaper to line the caddy

You should avoid:

• black bin liners
• rubble sacks
• hard plastic packaging (for example punnets and trays)