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World’s largest online-only grocer retailer is rewarding customers with a cash incentive for each individual carrier bag they recycle

Today, 30th September, online supermarket Ocado announces the launch of its Bag Recycle Bonus Scheme, offering customers 5p for each carrier bag that they recycle – both own-brand and from other retailers.

The scheme is an extension of the retailer’s pre-existing ‘closed-loop recycling system’ whereby customers can hand back bags which are then recycled back into new Ocado bags. The retailer is the only supermarket to operate such a system with the entire process taking place within the UK, rather than oversees, minimising carbon emissions from transportation.

The news comes as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ introduces a new Carrier Bag charging legislation in England. As of the 5th October, all large retailers will be responsible for charging customers 5p for every bag they use however with Ocado, they will be rewarded 5p for every bag they give back in order to encourage shoppers to recycle. Shoppers can hand back up to 99 bags from both Ocado and other retailers.

The announcement forms part of Ocado’s mission to become the UK’s most sustainable and environmentally friendly supermarket. Other schemes within this include the retailer’s ‘green van slots’ and donating food close to its ‘use by date’ to Ocado’s food bank partners.

Suzanne Westlake, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Ocado, says: “With our natural advantage in this area, our business model is built around efficiency and low waste. We’ve been operating a closed loop recycling scheme for many years now and our drivers have always taken back plastic bags – both our own and others – during a delivery, which we then make into new bags.

She adds: “We’ll be continuing with this scheme but will shortly also be paying customers if they return bags back to us to reward them for helping us to help the environment. Our Bag Recycle Bonus Scheme will help us to meet the aims of this new carrier bag charging legislation in England, reducing littering and damage to marine wildlife.”

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Ocado launches Bag Recycle Bonus Scheme