An innovative recycling fundraising partnership between United Biscuits and recyling specialist TerraCycle has saved 2.5 tonnes’ worth of biscuit wrappers from UK landfill, and raised more than £35,000 for British charities.
The McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade scheme is designed to save used biscuit wrappers from UK landfill, and recycle them into new products. It has now collected 1m used biscuit wrappers – the equivalent of 2.5 tonnes – which is then recycled by TerraCycle with the resulting pellet material used to make a variety of generic plastic products such as park benches, watering cans and waste bins, reducing the need to extract new resources.
The TerraCycle process offers consumers various ways to recycle their used biscuit wrappers via the McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade, depositing at their nearest drop off location or sending wrappers individually. Consumers are rewarded with two points for every biscuit wrapper sent in, with each point redeemable as a £0.01 contribution to the school, charity or non-profit of the senders’ choice. To date over £35,000 has been raised for a variety of worthy schools, charities and non-profit organisations.
United Biscuits UK managing director Jon Eggleton said: “We are delighted on the progress to date of the McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade. The programme has been embraced by people all over the UK to save used biscuit wrappers from landfill, increasing environmental awareness and raise over £35,000 to help support a variety of schools, charities and non-profit organisations.”
And TerraCycle UK’s Stephen Clarke added: “We were delighted when such an iconic brand as McVitie’s partnered with us to take ownership of what happens to used biscuit wrappers in the UK. In saving 1m used biscuit wrappers from landfill and the growth in collections month on month, the McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade is making a real difference in both saving waste from landfill and raising awareness of the importance of recycling.”
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