Facelift for supermarket recycling

Think supermarket recycling and the image that springs to mind is a row of overflowing bins relegated to some obscure corner of the car park.

The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is funding the £1.2 million research and both Sainsbury's and Tesco have been awarded contracts to install facilities at six of their stores in London and the South East.

If the experiment is successful and the more noticeable and convenient banks increase recycling rates, more facilities will be introduced elsewhere in the country.

The modern-looking recycling banks will be used to collect card and paper, glass jars and bottles, plastic bottles and food and drinks cans and cartons.

With the help of local authorities and the producers of the banks WRAP will log the impact of what it is calling Front of Store Recycling (FOSR).

The first wave of FOSR banks is set to be installed at branches of Sainsbury's in Waltham Forest, Haringey, Kingston upon Thames, Wandsworth, Enfield and Richmond.

Judith Batchelar, director for Sainsbury's Brand, said: "We are very pleased to be offered this opportunity by WRAP to enhance customer recycling facilities at six of our London sites.

"We look forward to working to encourage an increase in the amounts of packaging recycled at these stores."

By Sam Bond