‘Up to a third of packets not recyclable’

ALMOST a third of plastic packaging used by UK supermarkets is either non-recyclable through kerbside or retailer collection schemes or difficult to recycle, a consumer group has found.

Which? is calling for the government to make clear and simple recycling labelling compulsory after finding that up to 29% of packaging is likely to go to landfill.

The watchdog’s investigation of 27 ownbrand items at 10 major supermarkets found that Lidl had the lowest proportion of widely recyclable packaging at 71%, followed by Iceland (73%), Ocado (74%) and Sainsbury’s (75%). The best performer was Morrisons, with easily recyclable packaging for 81% of its tested products.

Researchers noted that Morrisons packaged its chocolate cake in a widely recyclable plastic box, while Lidl’s cake came in mixed packaging made up of a non-recyclable film within a widely recyclable box with a nonrecyclable window.

Some groceries had non-recyclable packaging no matter which supermarket they came from, such as easy-peel oranges which were all sold in nets with plastic labels.

Easy-peeler nets are not recyclable through kerbside collections or supermarket recycling banks, and can cause breakdowns if they wrongly end up in a sorting plant.

Lidl said: “We are conducting a comprehensive review of our entire packaging footprint.”