With schemes like Terracycle gaining a wealth of attention and local authorities continuing to improve their own recycling offerings, it’s noticeable how quiet UK supermarkets are remaining on the subject of recycling.
Many Britons don’t realise just how many items they can recycle at many of the country’s leading supermarkets, albeit typically more so at the larger stores. Some of the big brands will also reward you, with loyalty card points or financial incentives, to return, reuse and recycle certain things in store, something we are likely to see a lot more of us going forward.
Because the supermarkets have seemingly gone for a half-hearted approach and don’t exactly go out of their way to educate their customers on the available facilities. We’ve seen accusations of “greenwashing” and tokenism akmed at them as a result.
But let’s be positive, a lot is already possible and supermarkets are in some sense trying. Nearly all of the UK’s leading supermarket chains have signed up to the UK Plastics Pact, launched in April 2018, and some efforts have attracted praise from the likes of the WWF.
We’d like to support their efforts to date by highlighting below what you can recycle in store…
Items that you may be able to recycle (always check with your local store) include:
- Paper and card
- Plastic drinks bottles
- Carrier bags
- Bread bags
- Fruit/veg bags
- Cereal box inner bags
- Newspaper/magazine wrappers
- Loo/kitchen roll wrappers
- Crisp packets
- Bubble wrap
- Glass
- Cans
- Tetrapak cartons
- Baby food pouches
- Pet food pouches
- Contact lenses
- Clothes/shoes/textiles
- Books
- Batteries
- Small electricals
For specific information on what you can recycle and where, select a supermarket:
You can find us on Facebook by searching for Plastic Free Home or at http://www.facebook.com/plasticfreehomeuk.
Plastic Free Home - Environmental and Zero Waste Blog 