A collection scheme which makes it easier to recycle problem soft plastic such as bread bags, lids from ready meals, biscuit wrappers and wrappers from pet food has been launched.

The Midcounties Co-operative, whose branded packaging is 100 per cent widely recyclable, has rolled out the scheme in over 200 of its food stores.

Customers can dispose of any of the accepted materials, regardless of where the item was purchased, at collection points inside the shops.

Mike Pickering, co-operative social responsibility manager at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “As a Society, we’re committed to making change and encouraging our members and customers to work us with us to build a better environment for our future, and recycling is a big part of that.

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“We know that many of our customers and members want to do even more than they already are to help the planet, and the new recycling collection points are a great, convenient solution to help them with that.”

The Society is tackling the issue of single-use plastic as part of its 1Change campaign which aims to raise awareness of the issues caused by plastic pollution.

In October last year, it also announced that it will no longer sell single-use plastic carrier bags in any of its food stores and replaced them with fully compostable bags, helping to remove an estimated eight million single-use plastic bags from circulation each year.