TerraCycle UK announces launch of new programme and partnerships
TerraCycle, the nationwide recycling programme which collects unrecyclable waste that would otherwise go to a landfill, has launched a new programme which has been backed by the likes of Co-op and Booths supermarkets.
Launched in the UK in 2009, the aim of TerraCycle has been to incentivise consumers to send in their waste packaging using freepost downloadable labels in return for a monetary donation (typically 2 pence per item) to their school, charity or non-profit organisation of choice.
Unlike TerraCycle’s other programmes, the latest venture has involved recruiting public locations across the UK to act as hub locations and house a collection box for whole communities to drop their coffee packaging waste back to.
As part of the scheme the participating locations have been made visible on the TerraCycle website and visitors to the site can use a postcode search facility to find their nearest participating location.
So far the Coffee Packaging Brigade has accepted the likes of Co-op and Booths supermarkets, coffee shops, cafes, newsagents, charity shops, environmental centres, council buildings and churches.
The new project comes as its other Brigade programmes hit the 10 million mark in terms of the number of pieces of waste packaging saved from UK landfills.
TerraCycle partnered with brands such as Activia, Aquafresh, BIC, Ella’s Kitchen, JOHNSON’S Baby, Kenco, McVitie’s and Tassimo for the Terracycle Brigade recycle and fundraising schemes, which have so far raised over £133,000 for a variety of schools, charities and non-profit organisations.
Chris Baker, general manager of TerraCycle UK, commented: “TerraCycle UK is delighted to hit this significant milestone and would like to say a big thank you to our dedicated Brigade participants nationwide that have all helped us to hit this 10 million figure.
However, Baker went on to say that the efforts need to continue: “There are also plenty of other types of waste out there that are recyclable but end up in landfill as the infrastructure simply isn’t available for local UK councils nationwide to be able to recycle it.
“We would love to be able to offer a recycling solution for as many of these types of waste as possible so if you as a consumer find yourself throwing away lots of a certain type of packaging that you think you should be able to recycle, we encourage you to contact those brands directly to suggest they partner with TerraCycle to set up a Brigade recycling solution with us for their waste packaging and products.”