North-east Co-op stores to offer soft plastic packaging recycling
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Across the area, branches of the Co-op have installed recycling bins as the retailer continues its efforts to tackle waste.
A spokesperson for the supermarket explained: We’ve removed over 331 tonnes of plastic from our fresh fruit and veg packaging over the last two years. "But we need your help to do even more.
"Right now, you can recycle your soft plastics at 1500 Co-op stores across the country and we're aiming to offer this service at another 800 of our stores by the end of 2021.
"Here's a list of all the packaging we can accept."
General- Thin plastic lids of all types; Kitchen towel, toilet roll, nappy bag, cotton wool wrappers; Pouches – microwave rice, pre-cooked mussels, petfood, etc; Fruit and veg nets, bags and wrappers; Plastic sauce sachets.
Bags -Ordinary carrier bags; Bread bags; Crisps, nuts, snacks bags; Bags from: cereal and porridge, Dried goods – dried fruit, pasta, rice, sugar, pulses, Frozen foods and ice cubes.
Wrappers and film - Chocolate and sweets bags and wrappers; Biscuit wrappers; Cling film; Pizza wrapping film Bread product wrappers: Croissants, pancakes, naan bread, pitta bread, garlic bread, fresh pasta
Wrappers from:Cheese, pastry, cakes, Yorkshire puddings. baby wipes; Meat, poultry and joints; Tea and teabags, ground coffee; Pies, pastries, sausage rolls; Household textiles, scourers, rubber gloves; Giftwrap, greetings cards; Flower wrappers; Petfood wrappers.
They cannot accept - Compostable carrier bags, compostable and biodegradable bags and wrappers, plastic bottles and plastic trays
All Co-op own brand food packaging can be recycled but limitations may apply to third party packaging.
They continued: "While we will accept soft plastics from any retailer or brand, we cannot guarantee that such third party packaging will be recycled.
"Some of the more technical materials will have multiple layers, the composition of which we cannot be certain of, and these may end up being incinerated to produce energy.
"However, the majority of third party soft plastic will be made from materials which will go to be recycled within our scheme.
"Please note that the labelling on packaging may not be up to date with the soft plastics recycling scheme.
"As such, not all soft plastics will currently be labelled as recyclable.
"We are working hard in this space to ensure that labelling is clear, and hope to bring an updated label early next year."
