Lidl has become the first supermarket to roll out its own bottle return scheme trial. Shoppers in Glasgow can enjoy unlimited cash rewards in return for empty PET plastic and aluminium drinks containers via in-store reverse vending machines.
Rolling out across all 21 of its Glasgow stores, with the potential to roll out further, shoppers will receive a 5p reward for each eligible item they return. This can 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.
Incentivising shoppers to play a part in reducing plastic pollution, 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*.
The launch comes after the Scottish Government delayed the introduction of its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) from its original go-live date of 16 August 2023. Lidl’s scheme will ensure that shoppers can continue to benefit from the infrastructure established by the discounter.
Unlike DRS, the discounter’s bottle return scheme does not place a deposit on the retail price of the original product.
It’s anticipated that the pilot will result in a minimum of 10.5 tonnes of plastic and aluminium material being recycled each month, with the material that will be retained and used to create new plastic and aluminium products.
Richard Bourns, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl GB, commented that it was on a mission to eliminate all unnecessary waste, and with over 95 percent of its own-brand packaging now recyclable, reusable, or refillable, its been making great progress.
“We know that Lidl shoppers share this passion,” said Bourns.
“We hope that utilising this infrastructure, which might otherwise have been left dormant, will help make recycling their cans and bottles even more convenient.”
With its extra incentive and no cap on the number of items that can be recycled, it’s a win-win for all.
