Cathedral City launches first cheese packaging recycling program in UK

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A range of products can be created from the recycled packaging. Pic: TerraCycle

A large proportion of flexible plastic cheese packaging currently ends up in landfills across the UK, but now Cathedral City, a brand owned by Saputo Dairy UK, is working with TerraCycle to recycle flexible cheese packaging through the Cheese Packaging Recycling Programme.

The free program allows consumers to recycle flexible plastic cheese packaging from any brand while the company works toward developing 100% recyclable packaging.

Flexible plastic cheese packaging from Cathedral City and other brands can be dropped off at a public drop-off location or by signing up on the TerraCycle website and setting up a public drop-off location. Once signed up to the program, members can download free shipping labels and send their flexible cheese packaging to TerraCycle via UPS.

Once collected, the empty flexible plastic cheese packaging is separated by polymer type and cleaned, if necessary. The material is then extruded into plastic pellets to make new recycled products. These pellets are then transformed into new items such as picnic benches, plant pots or watering cans.

The number of collection sites is already growing, and currently stands at 10, with one in Northern Ireland, four in southern England and five as far north as South Yorkshire.

Consumers who are not near a drop-off location and don’t want to set up their own program, can mail in a minimum of 10 packages by printing their own label.

TerraCycle offers free recycling programs funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world to help collect and recycle hard-to-recycle waste.