A mum and daughter duo have been left utterly "frustrated" by an obscure recycling rule that led to the daughter's bins being left unemptied.
Ann Sharkey has shared her bewilderment after her daughter, Katherine, faced a bin collection snub when refuse workers spotted plastic packaging from veggies like lettuce, carrots, and celery peeking out of her wheelie bin. When Katherine queried the refusal, she was informed that such packaging must be recycled back at the store.
To Ann's astonishment, the 75 year old checked her own veggie wraps and discovered the label instructing: "Recycle with bags at large supermarket. Do not recycle at home."
If you can't see the poll, click here
Residing in Hunts Cross, with her daughter living with her partner and child in Warrington, Ann told the Liverpool Echo: "The binmen told her she needed to take the packaging back to the supermarket and wouldn't empty the bin. I wasn't aware that you couldn't put the packaging in the recycling bin so when I went to do my big shop on Thursday I went to customer services and they didn't know anything about it either."
READ MORE: Asda scraps major scheme offering cheaper deals on supermarket essentials
"I'd bought fresh produce so I showed them the packaging and it said it needed to be recycled in store. I asked if they have somewhere I can recycle the packaging and they said they didn't even though there are all sorts of bins there for other recycling and clothes. When I spoke to the manager even he didn't know, he told me to put all the packaging in a black bag and bring it to the store."
Ann expressed her disbelief, saying: "I'm astonished. What are we supposed to do if we can't recycle it at home? They should be doing their bit to help the environment."
Asda 's official website boasts that its stores feature "customer recycling bins for all types of plastic bags and film packaging all of which we send for recycling" highlighting that a significant 85.9% of Asda brand packaging is now designed to be recyclable from the comfort of your own home through kerbside collections, marking an improvement from 83.9% back in 2019.
The site further explains: "Where packaging can't be reduced or reused, we aim for the highest possible level of recyclability. 85% of Asda brand packaging is recyclable in customer homes via kerbside collections (2019: 83.9%). An additional 4.5% are recyclable in our stores."
Setting ambitious goals, Asda states: "By setting a target to reach at least 30% recycled content in Asda Brand packaging we're helping to stimulate the market for recycled materials and enabling investment in new recycling infrastructure and technologies. In 2020, we estimate there was 28.5% recycled content in our own-brand primary plastic packaging (2019: 24.8%) meaning we are on track for at least 30% by 2025."