Tesco were highly commended for starting their recycling scheme in selected stores back in August 2001. Research carried out on behalf of Tesco had revealed that the typical shopper has up to 40 carrier bags stored in cupboards in the home since they feel that throwing them away is not good for the environment. Shoppers at supermarkets use around 25 million bags a week, and Tesco's research has shown that these bags cause householders more 'e;nvironmental guilt' than any other issue.
 One of the new carrier bag-shaped collection banks at selected Tesco stores |
While around 35% of carrier bags are recycled already in the form of customer re-use, Tesco has put in place giant carrier bag-style collection banks to collect competitor-branded bags as well as their own, aiming to double the number of bags recycled. Last year, Tesco recycled 12,314 tonnes of plastic.
Tesco's Wayne Padian said: “It frustrates customers to throw bags away when they know it isn't great for the environment and that plastic can be recycled like glass and paper.”
Recognition for Tesco's scheme came as part of Valpak's annual awards dinner at Vinopolis City of Wine last night, in which the best recycling projects in the UK were celebrated. Other awards went to Next for their hanger re-use scheme, in which 6.7million hangers were either re-used or recycled; West Bromwich Pallets, which set up a wood recycling centre that recycled 42,000 tonnes of wood packaging waste in 2000, 76,000 tonnes in 2001; and Lincoln City Council for their community recycling efforts.
Subscribe for free