- Waitrose has launched soft plastic recycling at 295 Waitrose stores
- Film and flexible packaging accounts for around 25% of all consumer packaging
- Only 8% is recycled due to a lack of kerbside collections and limitations in recycling infrastructure*
Following a successful trial and considerable due diligence to find a UK-based waste management solution, customers can now recycle their soft plastic at 295 Waitrose stores.
Caroline Pinnell, Sustainability & Ethics Specialist at Waitrose, said: “We know that recycling is a key priority for many of our customers so we’re delighted to be able to offer flexible plastic recycling across a number of our shops.
“Across both Waitrose and John Lewis, we are continuing to strip away single-use packaging and provide our customers with convenient reuse, refill and recycling solutions. We are on track to meet our 2023 Waitrose packaging target, that all of our own-brand packaging will be reusable or made from widely recyclable or home-compostable material by the end of 2023, two years ahead of the industry-wide WRAP UK Plastic Pact.”
So, what can you recycle at Waitrose? As long as it’s clean and dry, the following are recyclable instore:
- Carrier Bags
- Bread Bags
- Frozen Food Bags
- Delivery Bags
- Cereal Liners
- Toilet Roll Wrapping
- Salad, Pasta and Rice bags
- Cheese, Fish and Meat Wrapping
- Crisps, Biscuit and Chocolate Wrapping
- Baby & Pet Food Pouches
- Bubble Wrap and Cling Film
The plastic will be sent to our UK reprocessor where it’s washed, separated and then flaked or pelletised so it can be made into new products or materials in their next life - such as:
- Secondary Packaging (e.g. toilet paper packaging)
- Shrink Wrap for transportation of goods
- Delivery / Carrier Bags
- Refuse Sacks
- Bags for DIY, industrial and horticultural products
- Guttering, buckets or plastic furniture
Find out if your local store has this recycling service using our Branch Finder
Notes to Editors
Plastic that must not be put in this recycle bin include:
- Compostable or Biodegradable Bags and Wrapping
- Multi-material Plastic Wrapping
- Cardboard Packaging
- Plastic Bottles
- Plastic Pots
- Plastic Tubs
- Plastic Trays
However, most of the items that are not accepted are recyclable via usual household recycling.
*Latest data (2021) by: edie
WRAP
