![\"Tesco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_UK-Government-Proposes-Higher-Plastic-Bag-Charge.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere’s a lot of confusion right now surrounding what you can and can’t recycle, but one binman on social media is here to solve your queries.<\/p>\n
Many of us will have a collection of supermarket plastic bags at home(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Many of us will probably have a couple of supermarket carrier bags kicking about at home. They’re a lot more durable than they used to be, and these ‘bags for life’ are designed to be reused again and again.<\/p>\n
However, if you’ve simply got too many or yours have carried one too many loads of shopping, you may be wondering how to dispose of them<\/a>.<\/p>\n The rules around recycling <\/a>changed earlier this year as the Simpler Recycling regulations came into force. With more and more confusion around what can and cannot be recycled at home, one binman on social media is here to answer your queries.<\/p>\n ‘Binfluencer’ No1 Binman<\/a> on TikTok has built up a following of more than 170k people thanks to his helpful tips on sussing out bin day. One person recently asked him about Tesco<\/a> bags and whether these can be recycled or not.<\/p>\n They said: “Can someone settle a debate for me. Tesco bags, are they recyclable? Says on them they are, but it doesn’t feel right.”<\/p>\n Households in England now must follow the new Simpler Recycling rules(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n In short, the binman says carrier bags are in fact recyclable – but it’s not as simple as it sounds. He says they can’t be placed in any of your recycling bins at home.<\/p>\n If you want to, you can take them back to the supermarket where they should be able to recycle them.<\/p>\n Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n The reason you shouldn’t put them in your bins at home is because they can clog up the machines at the recycling centre, which he says ‘won’t make them very happy’.<\/p>\n The best way to dispose of them is to put them in general waste, or keep on reusing them, like they are designed for.<\/p>\n Can you recycle paper bags?<\/p>\n The rules are slightly different for paper carrier bags. The experts at Best Pac UK said: “The great news for the environment is that yes, paper bags can be recycled, but only if they’re actually made from paper.<\/p>\n “Whilst most plastic bags, for example, are not recyclable, almost all types of paper bags can be recycled, helping to reduce the amount of plastic landfill sitting on the earth and polluting our oceans.”<\/p>\n The only exception is laminated paper bags which add a layer of plastic film to the paper and are often used to line paper bags being used to carry food and perishable items.<\/p>\n This lamination process means that they cannot be recycled.<\/p>\n![\"Recycling](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779056171_760_0_Wheelie-bins-in-row-segregated-for-recycling-rubbish.jpg\")
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