Tesco Rolls Out “Soft Plastic” Recycling Points for Packaging

Tesco has announced its rollout of recycling points for “soft plastic” packaging, such as bread bags and crisp packets.

171 stores in the southwest of England and Wales will now offer recycling points – with further plans to roll the scheme out to large stores nationwide after a successful trial in 10 shops.

The soft plastic packaging brought back by customers will be sent for recycling, and turned into new packaging.

According to Tesco, the trial saw customers return more than 10 times the expected amount of plastic for recycling, with bread bags, fruit and vegetable packaging and crisp packets being the most returned items.

It expects to collect and recycle 1,000 tonnes of plastic each year from the scheme.

Tesco Director of Quality Sarah Bradbury commented, “Where plastic serves an important purpose such as reducing food waste, these new recycling points make sure that every piece can be easily recycled.”