Discount supermarket Lidl has become the first grocer to pilot its own bottle return scheme, offering customers unlimited cash rewards across the city of Glasgow.

Lidl fascai against blue sky

Lidl has introduced a pilot cash-for-bottles return scheme

Lidl launched the scheme today, meaning that shoppers in Glasgow can get unlimited cash rewards in return for bringing back empty PET plastic and aluminium drink containers via in-store reverse vending machines.

The scheme will be available across all 21 of Lidl’s stores in the city and shoppers will receive a 5p reward for each eligible item they return.

The rollout of the pilot scheme comes after the Scottish Government announced a delay to the introduction of its Deposit Return Scheme, originally slated to launch in August 2023.

Lidl said the trial will result in a minimum of 10.5 tonnes of plastic and aluminium material being recycled each month, with recycled materials being reused in new products.

Lidl GB chief commercial officer Richard Bourns said: “We’re on a mission to eliminate all unnecessary waste and with over 95% of our own-brand packaging now recyclable, reusable or refillable we’ve been making great progress.

“We know that Lidl shoppers share this passion and we hope that utilising this infrastructure, which might otherwise have been left dormant, will help to make recycling their cans and bottles even more convenient for them.

“With our extra incentive thrown in, and no cap on the number of items that can be recycled, it’s a win-win for all.”