TERRACYCLE has announced the launch of a ‘first-of-its-kind’ solution for hard to recycle rubbish.
The Zero Waste Bag is designed to offer consumers a ‘simple and convenient’ way to recycle 14 common waste streams which are not collected in council kerbside recycling collections.
The accepted waste streams include plastic packaging, crisp and snack packets, cosmetic products and packaging, and medicine blister packs.
The Zero Waste Bag comes in two sizes priced at £25 for a small bag and £39 for a large, with discounts available for bundle purchases. The price covers the cost of delivery to the consumer, shipping of the full bag of waste back to TerraCycle via InPost and the cost of processing the returned waste and turning it into a reusable material that can be incorporated into new products.
Due to the mix of materials these items contain, TerraCycle explained the processes required to recycle them are complex which means the process costs more than the value of the recycled material. This is why councils cannot accept these items for recycling.
Julien Tremblin, general manager of TerraCycle Europe, said, “Many members of the public have expressed their wish to be able to recycle more and have been asking for a solution such as Zero Waste Bag to recycle many items not accepted via council collections. The bags have been designed to represent the perfect solution in terms of ease and practicality for the public, and we’re excited to announce their launch.”
Adam Herriott, senior sector specialist at WRAP, added, “At WRAP we are delighted to see that citizens will have the option and opportunity to be able to recycle more of these hard to recycle items, should they wish to do so. However, we need to continue to work on ways to eliminate the problematic and unnecessary packaging and design materials with end of life in mind – this includes how and where consumers can easily and responsibly dispose after use.”
Peter Blackburn, international commercial director at InPost Group, commented, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with TerraCycle to support the country’s recycling efforts through our expansive network of lockers. Convenient delivery options are critical to ensuring consumers have access to straightforward recycling options, and our lockers do just that. Our vision, as InPost Group, is to lead sustainable e-commerce by redefining the status quo for deliveries and returns, enhancing value, convenience, and sustainability.”
