Wrap for retailers over poor package recycling

04 June 2008

Up to 38% of packaging in a regular household shopping basket cannot be recycled, according to a Local Government Association probe.

The British Market Research Bureau was commissioned by the LGA to buy a range of common food from eight retailers. Analysis of the purchases found local retailers and market traders produced less packaging and more that could be recycled than the larger supermarkets.

Nevertheless, some progress has been made – the LGA’s first investigation into retailer packaging, published last October, put the non-recycable figure at 40%. Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA environment board, said: ‘The days of the cling film coconut must come to an end. We all have a responsibility to reduce the amount of waste being thrown into landfill, which is damaging the environment and contributing to climate change.’

The LGA is calling on the Government to make retailers and producers responsible for funding the collection of packaging so they are incentivised to cut back on it in the first place. ‘Many countries on the Continent operate a system where retailers contribute towards household collection and recycling services,’ Cllr Bettison said.

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