Can you recycle cling film?
🚫 Not recyclable
General waste — even where film is collected, cling film is usually excluded (food-soiled PVC/LDPE).
Cling film is too thin, stretchy and usually food-contaminated to recycle; most soft-plastic points exclude it explicitly. General waste. Beeswax wraps, silicone lids and containers replace it entirely.
Tips
- Supermarket film points want clean, dry film only — cling film rarely qualifies
Which bin does it go in?
General waste — even where film is collected, cling film is usually excluded (food-soiled PVC/LDPE).
Before throwing it away, see reuse, repair and donation routes.
Background: Recycling symbols explained.
Also searched as: saran wrap, food wrap.
✓ Checked against current UK guidance: 14 Jul 2026. Spot an error or an out-of-date rule?