Tesco, Safeway and Co-op stores in Scotland are helping distribute Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) leaflets entitled “What you can do about reducing packaging waste,” which include purchasing tips for consumers on how to buy items with less packaging waste. The leaflet will be widely available throughout Scotland in supermarket stores, libraries and other retail outlets.
Scotland throws away over 2,500 tonnes of packaging waste each day and most of this is disposed of in landfill sites. Karen Riddick, of SEPA's Producer Responsibility Unit, said: “The main factors which make household packaging waste difficult to recycle are that it is often mixed and contaminated with other wastes and that each household only produces relatively small amounts.
“If packaging waste is disposed of in your bin it will almost always be landfilled. Recycling will only take place if you separate your waste and take it to a recycling collection centre such as a glass or paper bank or if you take part in local initiatives such as kerb side collection. By using the information in this leaflet you can help increase recycling in Scotland and reduce the amount of packaging waste going to landfill.”
Patrick Browne, of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “Packaging is essential for the protection of goods to ensure that they reach the consumer in perfect condition. However this does result in significant amounts of waste which then has to be disposed of by the consumer. Retailers already recycle much of the packaging used to transport products to their stores and many supermarkets provide central recycling facilities and we would encourage customers to use these, and other initiatives, wherever possible.”
The leaflet encourages consumers to re-use shopping bags, refuse carrier bags and avoid excess packaging. It also suggests consumers contact their Local Authority Trading Standards or Consumer Protection Department if they think that a product has been excessively packaged.
The leaflet also explains the common recycling markings that are found on packaging, to help consumers identify the recycling facilities they need to use. And it includes contact details for SEPA waste strategy co-ordinators and recycling officers and details organisations that can give advice about recycling. Some of the leaflets have been sponsored by the Wastepack packaging compliance group and others have been sponsored by Valpak and its recycle-more campaign.
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