Return-A-Bag; Malt Bag Recycling Scheme

The recycling of plastic malt sacks has been an industry-wide challenge for many years, mainly due to the difficulties around the local recycling of polypropylene. Within the last year, we are proud to have worked with many of you to recycle 6194kg of waste malt sacks, which is equivalent to 67,430 25kg malt sacks. 

This year, we’ve launched Return-A-Bag, a new, more affordable recycling scheme that offers a bulk method of collecting and recycling your empty plastic malt sacks, minus the associated recycling or handling fees. The only cost attached is the transportation fee from your site to the waste handling facility. The best part? Waste malt sacks of all sizes, from all suppliers, can be recycled through Return-A-Bag.  

All waste sent through the Return-A-Bag scheme initially goes to a material recovery facility for aggregation. The waste is then recycled with third-party certified processors into secondary raw material, which is integrated back into the supply chain.  

The logistics  

Collect empty plastic malt sacks and load as many as you can onto a pallet. The pallet must be below 2 metres high but there are no weight restrictions. Load the pallet via any method which works best for you – as long as the pallet is safe and secure before its shipped! For a step-by-step guide to using our Return-A-Bag scheme, please see here.

Please refer to our Acceptable Waste Guide before booking in your pallet shipment. If you’d like some help on how to stack your pallet, please check our How to Stack Your Pallet Guide.

Benefits of Return-A-Bag: 

• Collect as many empty malt sacks as possible on pallets without restriction on weight (must be under 2 metres high). 
• Full traceability of waste volumes collected and recycled. 
• Encourages a responsible and sustainable supply chain. 
• All empty plastic malt sacks will be recycled (Polypropylene & Polyethylene). 
• A Waste Transfer Note will be systematically provided per shipment for compliance purposes. 

*Please be aware that Return-A-Bag is currently only available in the UK.