Lidl Ireland becomes first Irish retailer to offer customers recycling stations in-store
Minister Bruton welcomes launch of in-store recycling stations by Lidl
Print11 April 2019
Lidl Ireland plans to become the first Irish retailer to offer customers in-store recycling stations nationwide. In a bid to reduce packaging waste bought in-store, Lidl has committed to introducing segregated recycling stations at the end of customer checkouts in all 160 stores across Ireland. They will be rolled out from the start of May and will be available across all stores by 31 May 2019.
The market-leading initiative will offer Lidl’s almost two million weekly customers the opportunity to remove any unwanted recyclable packaging and to recycle it free-of-charge in-store once they have completed their shopping, therefore avoiding any disposal costs associated with bringing the packaging home.
The launch of this nationwide initiative follows a trial of these recycling stations in three Lidl stores – Gorey, Greystones and Ballycullen – which proved to be a huge success with Lidl customers. Lidl anticipates that the countrywide rollout of these recycling stations will result in tonnes of plastic, cardboard and other recyclable materials being recycled across their store network.
“Industry leadership is key if we are to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle which is so crucially needed,” said Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton, speaking at the launch.
“This initiative launched by Lidl, will be welcomed by consumers and also send a signal through the supply chain to reduce unnecessary packaging,” Minister Bruton added. “Working individually and collaboratively, the entire retail industry has a powerful role to play in tackling this issue.”
Describing the introduction as Lidl’s “latest step on [its] journey to tackle plastic waste”, Lidl Ireland managing director, J.P. Scally pointed out that the retailer had already implemented several plastic reduction initiatives such as its decision to end the sale of many single use plastic items and the removal of unrecyclable black plastics from “numerous categories” across its stores.
“We know from Repak research that Ireland is one of the leading recycling countries in the EU for packaging recycling, however Ireland’s EU target for recycling is to increase to 65% by 2025,” Scally said. “We want to play our part in supporting the country to achieve this target through our recycling stations nationwide.”
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