Retailer Dixons Carphone is rolling out a takeback scheme for EPS packaging at all of its UK Currys PC World stores.
After a successful trial at 14 stores over the summer, it will now collect EPS from TV packaging at the rest of its shops in the UK, with other types of EPS to be considered if consumer demand and uptake increeases.
EPS is awkward to recycle as it typically has a large volume and is rarely collected by local authorities. Instead, it is typically placed in general waste collection systems, and is therefore incinerated or sent to landfill.
It will complement the existing home delivery recycling service, which has taken back packaging for over a decade.
With the third party it works with, more EPS will be recycled into insulation panels for housing.
Dixons Carphone senior sustainability operations and compliance manager Chris Brown said: “We’re proud to be the first retailer to enable customers to drop off their TV packaging in stores for recycling.
“Now customers can have their polystyrene taken away at delivery or drop if off at one of our stores. Whatever they choose, we’ll take it off their hands and ensure we reuse or recycle it in a responsible way – helping customers to do their bit for the planet.”
As well as aiming for 100% of its own label packaging to be reusable or recyclable by 2023, the retailer is also trialling switching use of EPS on large appliances to cardboard as well as using cardboard pulp for packaging on many items. It is also investigating using paper trays instead of plastic blister trays and reducing use of cable ties and plug pin covers.
Due to this, 1.7 million tonnes of plastic packaging was removed last year, weighing over 40 tonnes.
