New bins to help recycle more soft plastic items
Soft plastics, including cling film, biscuit wrappers and carrier bags, can now be recycled at Co-op stores in Chichester and East Wittering.
The soft plastics recycling bins are currently being rolled out to the Southern Co-op stores in Bognor Road, Chichester, and Cakeham Road, East Wittering – as well as the store in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis.
It is hoped that the trial of soft plastics recycling bins will enable customers to safely recycle materials that can’t be recycled at home.
Simon Eastwood, chief operating officer for retail at Southern Co-op, said: “A lot of work has been done behind the scenes to reduce unnecessary packaging, and to switch to recyclable materials wherever possible.
“This is the next step as it will mean all Co-op own brand packaging will be easier to recycle in store or via council
kerbside collection. We would urge all our customers and members to make use of these new recycling points.
“Simply give it a quick clean, scrunch it up to test if it is soft plastic, and pop it into store.
“It doesn’t even have to have been bought in store to be recycled with us.”
The bins are being trialled in 29 stores and, if successful, it is hoped they could be rolled out to more stores across the south of England.
The initiative was first launched by the national cooperative, Co-op Group, in July after its own trials found that 86 per cent of shoppers were likely to use the service.
Once collected, the recyclable material is sent to a company called Jayplas which turns it into post-consumer plastic granules. These are then made into secondary products such as bin liners, buckets, and construction industry materials.
Gemma Lacey, director of sustainability and communications at Southern Co-op, said: “We are facing an environmental crisis so we are committed to taking urgent action and working towards a waste free future.
“The appetite for change is there within our communities so, by making it easier for households to recycle all their plastic food packaging, we can prevent unnecessary waste, reduce plastic pollution and help people play their part in making a positive difference to our environment and our communities.”