Aldi is trialling its first deposit return scheme at its Bathgate store in West Lothian, Scotland, allowing customers to return bottles and cans in exchange for a voucher to be redeemed against their shopping.
Customers are being encouraged to return single-use PET plastic or glass bottles from 50ml up to three litres, and aluminium drinks cans, to the reverse vending machine provided.
For each item deposited, customers will receive 10p in the form of a voucher, up to a maximum of £5.
As part of the trial, Aldi will gather key insights in preparation for Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which is due to launch in July 2022.
We hope local customers in Bathgate will embrace this trial and we will use their feedback to inform our plans as we prepare for the deposit return scheme roll out in Scotland
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to look after our environment and promote recycling whenever possible.
“We hope local customers in Bathgate will embrace this trial and we will use their feedback to inform our plans as we prepare for the deposit return scheme roll out in Scotland.”
The trial comes ahead of Scotland’s national DRS that is set to launch in 2022.
The nationwide DRS will require consumers to pay a 20p deposit when they buy a glass bottle, can or PET plastic container. The money is then reimbursed when the empty containers are returned to a return point.