Co-op launches plastic film recycling scheme

Co-op has started trialing a new in-store plastic film collection scheme.

The initiative is part of a major 50-store roll out which aims to establish an accessible disposal route for the material, which is not currently collected by UK councils.

The collection points in stores will accept all types of clean, ‘scrunchy’ plastic film from any brand or retailer. These could include plastic carrier bags, lids from ready meals and yoghurt pots, wine box inners, chocolate, cake and biscuit wrappers, fruit and vegetable flow wrap and toilet roll wrappers.

“Flimsy plastic film has long been a problem and people are rightly confused as to whether it can be recycled or if it should go straight in the bin,” commented Jo Whitfield, chief executive of Co-op Food.

“We’re pleased to be trialling a proposal that we hope offers a simple solution to an everyday issue. Learnings will help us to prompt a positive change in consumer behaviour over the coming months, ahead of our national roll out next year.”

The trial has begun this week at stores in the south of England. The retailer plans to roll it out across the rest of its estate early next year, making it the largest film collection scheme of its kind in the UK.

The deposited film waste will be sorted and where possible, processed into waste disposal bin liners for use in Co-op stores.

Co-op, which makes over 750 million pieces of plastic film annually, has committed to make 100 per cent of its own brand packaging easy-to-recycle either via kerbside collection or an in-house closed loop system by 2021.