Lidl launches a bottle return scheme trial in Glasgow that pays customers 5p for every eligible drinks container they return without charging them a deposit when purchasing items.
Lidl said consumers can return empty PET plastic and aluminium drinks containers via reverse vending machines (RVM) in its 21 Glasgow stores.
The trial across all Lidl stores in Glasgow follows the Scottish Government’s decision to delay its deposit return scheme (DRS) until October 2025. Lidl said its bottle return scheme will ensure that “shoppers can benefit” from the infrastructure it had already put in place in preparation for Scotland’s DRS.
However, unlike DRSs, the Lidl Return Scheme does not charge customers a deposit on the retail price of the original product, which they redeem when returning the item.
Customers will receive a “5p reward” each time they return an eligible item to a Lidl store, which can be redeemed against the price of their shopping or donated to The STV Children’s appeal.
The Lidl Return Scheme is running for a trial period from 8 February 2024 until 11 August 2024. Lidl expects the trial to lead to a minimum of 10.5 tonnes of plastic and aluminium being recycled each month.
Lidl said there isn’t a cap on the number of in-scope items that can be returned and it will accept eligible bottles and cans purchased from any retailer as long as they are clean and not crushed.
The RVMs will accept single-use PET or aluminium drinks containers between 100ml – 3 litres in size that have a readable barcode. Dairy items, such as HDPE plastic milk or yoghurt drinks, Tetra-pack, paper-based cartons, glass or pouches are not eligible for return, Lidl said.
With our extra incentive thrown in, and no cap on the number of items that can be recycled, it’s a win-win for all.
Commenting on the trial’s launch, Richard Bourns, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl GB, said: “We’re on a mission to eliminate all unnecessary waste, and with over 95% of our own-brand packaging now recyclable, reusable, or refillable we’ve been making great progress.
“We know that Lidl shoppers share this passion, and we hope that utilising this infrastructure, which might otherwise have been left dormant, will help to make recycling their cans and bottles even more convenient for them. With our extra incentive thrown in, and no cap on the number of items that can be recycled, it’s a win-win for all.”
