Environment minister Ben Bradshaw will join the UK's top 13 grocery chains to tell them he needs to see 'improvements' over the next 12 months, if they are to cut waste significantly by the Government's target of March 2010. The aim is to recycle 70 per cent of all packaging waste by then.
Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's are among the 13 retailers who have signed up to the Government's Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), launched last year to address concerns about the amount of rubbish produced by the industry.
Ahead of the meeting, Bradshaw conceded that progress had been made on this issue, but added that more still needs to be done. He will also urge grocery chains to focus on reducing food waste over the next year.
The food and drinks industry accounts for about 10 per cent of all industrial and commercial waste, and packaging makes up 4.5 tonnes of household waste a year.
An estimated 60 per cent of all food packaging is recycled at present, at a cost of£1.5 billion.
No comments yet