Woolworths phasing in clear lids for milk bottles

Woolworths is making the switch from coloured lids to clear lids on its own brand milk to make recycling easier. The lids have already started popping up in some Victoria, NSW and Queensland stores and are expected to fully roll out by early next year.

The change will mean the lids, which are currently dark blue or light blue, can be recycled into a greater variety of new products — unlike coloured plastic which has fewer uses when recycled. It means up to 290,000 kg of plastic from millions of milk bottles will be more effectively recycled each year.

Coloured plastic currently needs to be separated from clear plastic during recycling. Coloured plastic can presently be recycled but its pigments make it less versatile as it can only be recycled into dark coloured plastic. Clear plastic leads to better quality recycling, allowing the lids to be turned back into clear or coloured plastic, meaning it could potentially be used to make a new milk bottle.

To boost recycling, customers can follow these three important steps:

1. Crush the milk bottle by stepping on it with shoes on.
2. Screw the lid on the milk bottle to ensure it doesn’t get discarded during recycling.
3. Place it in the yellow recycling bin at home.

These instructions are included on a label on the bottle.

Will Herron, Woolworths Dairy Merchandise Manager, said, “This small change will lead to better recycling for millions of milk bottles once it rolls out across our range.”

Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) CEO Chris Foley said, “Small changes like this stack up to help recycled material go into a greater variety of new products, and we hope to see more companies follow this move.

“Customers should always look for the Australasian Recycling Label logo on their Woolworths brand milk and other supermarket products for easy-to-follow instructions to ensure their packaging ends up in the right place.”

Woolworths’ own brand cream and bottled water are also set to feature clear caps. This change has already taken place across Woolworths’ yoghurt pouches.