Free Subscription

  • Access daily briefings and unlimited news articles

Premium

Only $39.95 per year
  • Quarterly magazine and digital
  • Indepth executive interviews
  • Unlimited news and insights
  • Expert opinion and analysis

Tesco rewards customers with reverse vending machines

TescoUK supermarket giant Tesco is experimenting with new ways to encourage customers to recycle, with the launch of reverse vending machines which pay customers for every plastic bottle returned.

The in-store recycling machines are being trialed at selected stores in Borehamwood, Swansea, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. The first machine opened for customers in Borehamwood yesterday and pays 10p for each bottle returned.

In addition, Tesco customers will be able to reuse their own multi-use plastic containers when they buy meat, cheese or fish from deli and fish counters in UK stores from October 3. To cut down on single-use plastic bags, products will be weighed and wrapped in recyclable paper then placed inside the customer’s container with the price label placed on the paper.

Earlier this year Tesco announced its intention to simplify the number of materials it used in packaging to make it easier to recycle. It also highlighted the challenges of having different collection schemes in different local authority areas making it costly and confusing for customers to recycle.

Jason Tarry, UK and ROI CEO said the recycling initiatives are a step in the right direction.

“We are already committed to eliminating single-use plastic wherever we can and make recycling simpler for customers. Today is another step in that direction

“However, we know that it is going to take retailers, manufacturers and government to work together to make progress. We would urge the government to move to a single, nationwide approach to waste collection that makes it much easier for people to recycle,” Tarry said.

By 2025 Tesco plans to make all packaging fully recyclable or compostable, ensure that all paper and board will be fully sustainable and aims to halve packaging weight compared to 2007 levels.

You have 3 free articles.