SUPERMARKET chain Lidl has become the first retailer to offer customer recycling facilities in-store.
The retailer has installed customer recycling stations at checkouts across all its 38 branches, in a bid to reduce consumer’s packaging waste.
The scheme is the first of its kind among supermarkets in Northern Ireland and offers Lidl’s customers the opportunity to remove unwanted recyclable packaging at the point of purchase.
The launch of the scheme follows a successful trial of checkout recycling stations within the Republic and has now rolled out across Lidl’s 199 stores across on the island of Ireland.
Deirdre Ryan, head of corporate social responsibility at Lidl, said the company is proud to be championing recycling in its stores.
"This checkout recycling station initiative will further reduce the amount of recyclable materials taken out of store and provides our customers with a convenient drop off point for unwanted recyclable packaging" he said.
"We’re proud to be leading the Northern Irish retail sector in implementing sustainable initiatives that benefit our environment, our communities and our customers. This scheme will result in tonnes of plastic, cardboard and other materials being recycled across our store network and aligns with our goals and targets set out in our sustainability strategy, a better tomorrow.”
The move is one of many steps that Lidl is taking as part of its plastic reduction strategy. Last year the supermarket discontinued the sale of single-use plastic items in favour of biodegradable alternatives, saving 2.75 million straws, 1.8 million plastic plates and cups and 75.1 million individual cotton buds.
