Tesco rolls out recycling points for soft plastic packaging to all large stores

The retailer hopes the roll-out of collection points will allow it to collect and recycle 1,000 tonnes of plastic a year

Shoppers will now be able to bring back soft plastic packaging for recycling at all of Tesco’s large stores, the retailer has announced.

The supermarket has made the move after a successful trial of recycling points across 171 stores allowing customers to recycle plastic including bread, salad and vegetable bags, crisp packets and sweet wrappers.

Tesco said 85% of customers at trial stores in Wales and south west England said it helped them recycle more than they would otherwise have done, and shoppers also liked the convenience of combining recycling with their shop.

Once collected by Tesco, the old soft plastic is sent for recycling, where it is washed, sorted and as much material as possible is recycled into new products and packaging.

The retailer said that in a recent sampling it was able to recover more than 80% of the plastic returned by customers, and is now working with recyclers to see what can be done with the remaining 20% which is sent for incineration to generate energy.

Soft plastic packaging such as the clear film to wrap meat and fish, crisp packets and fruit and veg bags is not commonly collected by local councils from homes for recycling so it usually goes in the waste bin.

The retailer hopes the roll-out of collection points will allow it to collect and recycle 1,000 tonnes of plastic a year.

Published: 23/08/2021 by Radio NewsHub