Lidl has today (8 February) rolled out its own bottle return scheme trial in Glasgow.
Shoppers in the city can get unlimited cash rewards in return for empty PET plastic and aluminium drinks containers via in-store reverse vending machines.
The machines will accept single-use drinks packaging made from either polyethylene terephthalate (PET plastic) or aluminium, are between 100ml and three litres in volume, and have a readable barcode to scan at the point of donation. Dairy items, such as HDPE plastic milk or yogurt drinks, Tetra-pack, paper-based cartons, glass or pouches are not eligible for return.
Rolling out across all 21 of its Glasgow stores, with potential for expansion, shoppers will receive a 5p reward for each eligible item that they return. This can either be redeemed against their shopping or donated to Lidl’s long-standing charity partner, The STV Children’s appeal, which it has supported since 2011.
There is no cap on the number of items that can be returned, and the discounter will accept qualifying bottles and cans purchased from any retailer, as long as they are clean and uncrushed.
Unlike the Scottish Government’s much-postponed deposit return scheme, the discounter’s bottle return scheme does not place a deposit on the retail price of the original product.
Lidl anticipates that the pilot will result in a minimum 10.5 tonnes of plastic and aluminium material being recycled each month, with the material retained being used to create new plastic and aluminium products.
Richard Bourns, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl GB, said: “We’re on a mission to eliminate all unnecessary waste, and with over 95% of our own-brand packaging now recyclable, reusable, or refillable we’ve been making great progress.
“We know that Lidl shoppers share this passion, and we hope that utilising this infrastructure, which might otherwise have been left dormant, will help to make recycling their cans and bottles even more convenient for them. With our extra incentive thrown in, and no cap on the number of items that can be recycled, it’s a win-win for all.”
The Lidl Return Scheme is running for a trial period in participating Glasgow stores until 11 August 2024.
