With Simpler Recycling reforms just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to sort your food waste liners. Councils across the UK are being nudged towards universal food waste collections and with businesses already feeling the pressure of new legislation, the bin bag battlefield is expanding.
More bins. More bags. More baffled Brits wondering: what liner is right for my food waste?
Industry experts recommend two options: green compostable liners and natural/clear polythene liners. Each of these bags serves the same purpose: to securely and safely capture food waste, but let’s unpack the debate: compostable vs. polythene, which bag is best?
Compostable Liners
Made from materials like Ecopond®, compostable liners are designed to break down into biomass, CO₂ and water in an industrial composting setting. When it comes to colour pale green is the most appropriate and widely recognised colour for compostable material. It visually signals compostability and aligns with industry standards, helping to distinguish these bags from conventional plastics. This colour choice supports accurate sorting, encourages participation in food waste recycling, and reduces contamination at industrial composting facilities.
So what are the benefits of Compostable Liners:
Resource efficiency: Fully compostable and great for councils partnering with industrial composting facilities.
Contamination control: They’re often colour-coded, making sorting food waste as foolproof as paint-by-numbers.
Bin-hugging hygiene: They reduce mess and smell — ideal for kitchen counters or commercial kitchens
Polythene Liners
When compostable liners aren’t used, natural (transparent) polythene is the best alternative. Its clarity allows users and collection teams to inspect contents visually, enabling quick identification and removal of contaminants. Unlike green, orange, yellow, or purple liners, which are linked to specific waste streams (such as compostable or clinical waste), the natural colour avoids confusion and cross-contamination risks.
Cromwell’s polythene food waste caddy liners are rugged, reliable, made with 30% recycled content and perfect for councils partnering with AD Plants that debag their separated food waste.
Pros of Polythene Liners:
- Cost-effective: Budget-friendly, especially in large-scale operations.
- Tough as old boots: More puncture-resistant and better suited to heavier loads.
- Transparent: Contents are clearly visible, enabling contaminants to be removed before being processed.
Choosing the right colour for food waste liners enforces clarity, compliance, and contamination prevention. Polythene liners coloured incorrectly could be mistaken for compostable or clinical waste streams, potentially leading to mis-sorting and costly disposal errors. Correct liner colours help waste go to the right place, improving recycling outcomes and supporting a cleaner, greener circular economy.
So Which One Should You Use?
Simple. It depends on your waste stream.
- For food waste destined for industrial composting, opt for compostable liners.
- For food waste heading for Anaerobic Digestion, food waste is likely to get de-bagged during the waste management process. For this circumstance, we recommend polythene liners.
Got a liner question or want to place an order? Give a call, we’re all ears (liners).