From: Packaging News

Morrisons has begun a deposit return scheme trial for the return of single-use plastic bottles in two UK stores.

Wm Morrisons Supermarkets 38800

The two reverse vending machines are at the retailer’s stores in Skipton, North Yorkshire, and Lindsayfield, Scotland, for six months and will award participating customers with points coupons.

The machines are already operational and accept all plastic bottles that have a barcode and Morrisons own-brand bottles that may not have one.

Customers can return a maximum of 20 bottles a day and receive 100 Morrisons More points in the form of a coupon which can be spent in store for each one.

They can also choose to donate a 10p cash alternative to the supermarket’s charity partner, CLIC Sargent.

Andrew Clappen, Morrisons group corporate services director, said: “We want to play our part in making sure plastic bottles are collected and recycled. We’ll listen to customers as they use these machines.”

Environmental campaigners have welcomed the news.

Julian Kirby, Friends of the Earth plastic campaigner, said: “Deposit schemes for plastic bottles are a welcome initiative, and are one of the ways that stores can work with customers to reduce the plastic that ends up in landfill and incinerators, or pollutes our environment.

“But supermarkets are a significant source of plastic pollution – and they need to do far more to reduce plastics use if they really want to be greener grocers. Ultimately we need to phase-out all but the most essential plastics if we are to end the scourge of plastic pollution that’s damaging our wildlife. The government must take the lead to ensure this happens.”

Morrisons recently announced it was replacing clear plastic bags for grocery with brown paper bags, as well as allowing shoppers to use their own containers for meat and fish.