Retailers promote recycling logo

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A new recycling logo has been suggested by a group of leading retailers.

The British Retail Consortium and the government-backed Waste and Resources Action Programme published a consultation on their voluntary logo.

The consortium said the logo would replace the "confusing array" of symbols and messages used on packaging.

The logo shows if packaging is widely recycled, locally done or not recycled. It aims to simplify labelling and encourage consumers to recycle more.

The retailers involved are Alliance Boots, Asda, B&Q, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco, The Co-Operative Group and Waitrose.

Local authorities

The "widely recycled" symbol means the packaging can be recycled by 65% or more of local authorities.

The "check locally" symbol means it is recycled by 20% to 65% of local authorities.

Products with the "not currently recycled" symbol, are recycled by less than 20% of local authorities.

BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said consortium members planned to have the new logo in use from early next year, but they wanted to consult with other manufacturers and retailers.

"Ideally, material that's recyclable in one area would be recyclable everywhere but, so far, it isn't," he said.

"Local inconsistencies cannot be allowed to thwart a standardised label which will help millions of customers and mean more of what can be recycled is collected."

Use of the logo would be voluntary and the BRC said it would not conflict with the EU Packaging Directive.