Tesco customers encourage to bring own containers at deli counters

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Following a successful trial, Tesco customers will be able to use their own containers at deli counters in over 700 UK stores from Wednesday 3 October.

Customers will be able to reuse their own multi-use plastic containers when they buy meat, cheese or fish from deli and fish counters in UK stores.

Instead of using single-use plastic bags, products will be weighed and wrapped in 100% recyclable and biodegradable paper then placed inside the customer’s container with the price label placed on the paper.

Customers will not be able to use their own containers for:

• Hot food products, such as cooked rotisserie chicken
• Store-prepared pizzas
• Salad bar
• Olives and antipasti

Customers will need to bring separate containers for raw and ready-to-eat cooked products.

Customers can only use multi-use plastic sealable containers: no glass, metal or cardboard containers will be accepted.

Jason Tarry, UK and ROI CEO said: “We are already committed to eliminating single use plastic wherever we can and make recycling simpler for customers. This is another step in that direction.

“However, we know that it is going to take retailers, manufacturers and government to work together to make progress.

“We would urge the government to move to a single, nationwide approach to waste collection that makes it much easier for people to recycle.”

Additionally, Tesco has also begun to trial in-store recycling machines, which will pay customers for every plastic bottle returned. 

The trial will take place at selected stores, including Manchester, paying 10p for bottles returned.