Every Cheltenham Household Can Now Recycle Plastic Bags and Wrapping at the Kerbside
From 9 November 2026 any Cheltenham household can sign up to recycle plastic bags, crisp packets, wrappers and pouches with their kerbside recycling.
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From Monday 9 November 2026, every household in Cheltenham can sign up to recycle plastic bags and wrapping from home. Cheltenham Borough Council is extending the service to the whole borough after a trial with around 6,000 households in areas including Benhall and Wymans Brook.
Our recycling and bin collections pages now include the new collection, with what it takes and how to put it out.
How to Sign Up
Sign up on the council’s bins and recycling containers page or call 01242 262626. The council delivers a pack of collection bags with a leaflet explaining the scheme. You can use your own carrier bags as well as, or instead of, the bags supplied.
Fill the bag, tie it securely and put it in your recycling box on your usual recycling day.
What You Can Recycle
- Plastic bags, including carrier, bread, frozen food, salad, fruit and vegetable, flower and cereal bags
- Sweet, chocolate, biscuit, cake, ice cream and chewing gum wrappers
- Crisp and snack packets and coffee bags
- Cheese, fish and meat wrapping
- Outer wrap from multi-packs of toilet and kitchen roll, magazines and newspapers
- Pouches, sachets and packets, such as microwave food, baby food, pet food, cosmetics and cleaning pouches
- Film lids and plastic sleeves from bottles and jars
- Bubble wrap and cling film
- Fruit and vegetable nets
Plastic pots, tubs and bottles still go in your usual recycling box with tins and cans.
Why It’s Changing
Under the government’s Simpler Recycling rules, councils in England must collect the same core materials from every home. Plastic bags and film were due to be added in March 2027, but in July 2026 Defra pushed that back to 1 April 2030, saying the UK did not yet have enough capacity to sort and reprocess them. The council says it is one of the first in the country to offer the collection borough-wide, more than three years before the deadline.
FAQs
Do I Have to Sign Up?
- Yes. The collection is open to every household, but you need to sign up once so the council can send you collection bags.
When Are Plastic Bags and Wrapping Collected?
- On your usual recycling day, every two weeks, in the same week as your green boxes and blue bag. Our bin collections page shows whether it’s Week 1 or Week 2.
Can I Still Take Film Plastics to a Supermarket?
- Yes. Some major supermarkets, such as Tesco on Colletts Drive and Asda in Hatherley, still take bagged-up film plastics. Our recycling page lists other places to recycle items that can’t go in your boxes.
Where Does This Information Come From?
- From Cheltenham Borough Council’s announcement of the service and its plastic bag and wrapping recycling page.