Scan it, don’t can it: Ocado trials recycle cash deposit scheme
OCADO shoppers could be given a financial incentive to scan their recycling under plans being trialled by the online supermarket.
A deposit return scheme, which could come into place in England and Wales by 2024, will impose a levy on recyclable drinks containers, expected to be about 20p.
To make it easy to reclaim the deposit, Ocado is trialling QR codes on containers for customers to scan before putting in the recycling bin.
People would otherwise be expected to return bottles to a recycling point to claim their deposit, raising concerns of a low uptake.
About 16 million plastic bottles are littered every day, and drinks containers make up 75 per cent of the rubbish found on the streets, according to Keep Britain Tidy.
Ocado will initially trial codes on milk bottles, ineligible under a future deposit return scheme, and for which there will be no cash incentives during the trial.
The retailer hopes to prove it can print “unique every time” QR codes on massproduced bottles to provide confidence in the scheme.
If extended, QR codes will be connected to an app that will return the deposit to an online wallet, according to tech firm Polytag, which is developing the technology.
During the trial customers will be directed to a website with information about recycling in their area.
Jayne Paramor, from waste charity Wrap, said: “New technologies that support us to reduce, reuse and recycle the packaging we need are a key piece of the puzzle and we welcome these innovative
collaborations. We need to focus our attention on positive, impactful changes and look forward to seeing the outcomes of the trial.”
Plans for a deposit return scheme were announced in England and Wales in 2018 but have been subject to repeated delays. In 2021, the Government pushed back its original planned start date from 2023 until late 2024 at the earliest.
Scotland’s deposit return scheme is scheduled to come into force next summer, with a 20p levy on drinks containers.