Bye-bye disposable BBQs

Hazardous disposable barbecues to be removed.

  • Waitrose one of the first UK supermarkets to commit to ending the sale of disposable barbecues
  • This will save an estimated 70,000 disposable barbecues from being sold each year
  • ‘Disposable barbecues present a risk to our natural habitats’

Waitrose and Aldi have become the first UK supermarkets today (March 9th) to commit to ending the sale of disposable barbecues, with Waitrose already removing them across all 331 of its core *stores.

The move comes as increasing pressure mounts from leading charities and environmental organisations for supermarkets to remove disposable barbecues due to their potentially hazardous impact on the environment.

We estimate this will save around 70,000 disposable barbecues from being sold per year, which will save multiple tonnes of paper labels, shrink wrap plastic, cooking grills, foil and card.

Protecting natural habitats 

Lucy Comer, Buyer at Waitrose, said: "Disposable barbecues present a risk to our natural habitats and this is why we've committed to removing them from our shelves this year. This is the right thing to do to preserve our local ecosystems and another example of the work we're doing to protect the planet. We applaud Aldi for standing with us to make this happen and we hope other retailers will follow."

Read more about our Sustainable approach here

Related news

View all
Image of Lamb’s liver anyone? Sales of ‘forgotten cuts’ soar as customers opt for ‘zero waste’ nose-to-tail eating
Waitrose 31 Mar 2026

Lamb’s liver anyone? Sales of ‘forgotten cuts’ soar as customers opt for ‘zero waste’ nose-to-tail eating

Read more
Image of Waitrose food lovers are Italianmaxxing Easter
Waitrose 30 Mar 2026

Waitrose food lovers are Italianmaxxing Easter

Read more
Image of Waitrose chef’s tips to revolutionise your hot cross bun leftovers and their ultimate Easter Sunday roast lamb guide
Waitrose 27 Mar 2026

Waitrose chef’s tips to revolutionise your hot cross bun leftovers and their ultimate Easter Sunday roast lamb guide

Read more