Trailblazer Tesco brings in bottle deposit machines to boost recycling

A TRIAL of so-called reverse vending machines is being launched by Tesco ahead of Government plans to introduce a deposit scheme on plastic bottles to boost recycling.

Shoppers will get a 10p reward for each plastic bottle deposited – up to ten per day and a maximum size of 750ml.

The move represents a victory for the Daily Mail’s ‘ Turn the Tide on Plastic’ campaign and is part of a wider attack on packaging, waste and pollution by stores across the high street. Tesco has also revealed it is to start removing single-use plastic bags at its fresh meat, cheese and fish counters in 700 stores from October 3.

Instead products will be weighed and wrapped in recyclable paper and customers will be encouraged to bring in their own multi-use plastic boxes in a move that mirrors a similar initiative by Morrisons.

In the past, major supermarkets and their trade body the British Retail Consortium – together with soft drinks firms – have fiercely lobbied against the idea of introducing a deposit and return scheme (DRS) on plastic bottles.

The fact that Tesco, which is Britain’s biggest retailer, has thrown its weight behind the idea and is trialling the reverse vending machines, is enormously significant.

It is one of a growing number of retailers, including Iceland and the Co-op, and others, such as Coca Cola, who are backing a UK-wide bottle deposit scheme.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who has expressed horror at the plastic pollution of the environment and seas, is expected to launch a consultation on bringing DRS to Britain in the next few weeks.

Tesco installed its first reverse vending machine in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, yesterday and others will follow in Swansea, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham.

The machines will pay out vouchers that can be redeemed at tills. Tesco is not the first to install such machines – with the Co-op and Morrisons recently launching trials.

Retailers are racing to reduce plastic packaging and use matework rials which can be easily collected and recycled.

But they say much more needs to be done to end the confusion around what councils will accept – with wide differences between towns and cities.

Tesco UK chief executive Jason Tarry said: ‘We are already committed to eliminating single use plastic wherever we can and make recycling simpler for customers. Today is another step in that direction.

‘However, we know that it is going to take retailers, manufacturers and government to together to make progress.’ An estimated 35million plastic bottles and 20million aluminium cans are sold in the UK every day.

Fewer than 60 per cent of bottles are recycled and as many as 700,000 plastic bottles fuel a tide of litter.

By contrast, collection and recycling rates are over 90 per cent in countries with deposit schemes, such as Germany.

It is estimated that more than 12million tonnes of plastic enters the world’s oceans every year, putting marine life at risk.