Trial of plastic bottle recycling vending machines at Morrisons

Bradford-headquartered Morrisons is to undergo a six month trial of vending machines for customers to recycle single-use plastic bottles.

As part of the trial, shoppers will be able to deposit a maximum of 20 bottles a day and in return receive points to be spent in store or a donation to charity.

The machines are set to be trialled at two branches – one in Skipton, North Yorkshire and another at Lindsayfield in South Lanarkshire. The Big Four supermarket said it was part of its plans to reduce its impact on the environment.

The machines will accept all plastic bottles that have a barcode and Morrisons own-branded bottles that do not have one.

The scheme follows a number initiatives by Morrisons to reduce the use of plastic. This includes allowing customers to use their own containers for meat and fish from the Morrisons’ Market Street Butcher and Fishmonger counters,  reintroducing brown paper bags for loose fruit and vegetables and reducing/removing unnecessary plastic packaging.