A while ago Tesco stores chain introduced experimental recycling machines that paid you in Clubcard points (they can be exchanged for stuff once you collect more than 250 of those) for items you brought to recycle.
They used to accept plastic, paper, aluminium cans and other easily recyclable materials. Unfortunately, it turned out that our society wasn’t ready for such an innovatory approach. The recycling machines were vandalized, so Tesco had to refuse accepting paper and cardboard. Then people started cutting PET bottles in smaller pieces in order to get more Clubcard points.
Currently, the only item that you can get the points for is aluminium cans. However, as the fizzy stuff is bad for the teeth, all this Tesco recycling campaign is not doing much for me :(. I still think it is a good idea. Besides, you can also bring in your old batteries to Tesco (there are battery recycling boxes at the majority of LIDL and Marks & Spencer stores too).
Overall, it was a good initiative that ended up having less impact than it potentially would have. Anyway, for a full list of stores that have the automatic recycling systems, please click here. Alternatively, if you have chunky bits to recycle, please call your local council and they will give you the whereabouts of your closest recycling centre. Don’t just chuck it, recycle it!!!
