Checkout bag recycling

Coles introduced checkout bag recycling bins in all stores in October 1995. This financial year, Coles has recycled approximately 5,000 tonnes of plastic (including shrink-wrap). The plastic is recycled into plastic products such as flowerpots, farm irrigation piping and garbage bins. To reduce the amount of plastic bags going to landfill and polluting the environment, please bring your used plastic bags in and place them in the checkout recycling bins at the front of the store.

Cardboard recycling

Coles stores are equipped with cardboard compactors which allow all cardboard packaging to be compacted into bales and collected for recycling. This financial year, Coles has recycled approximately 110,000 tonnes of cardboard.

Recycled checkout bags

As an extension to the checkout bag recycling program and following a trial commencing in Tasmania in September 1997, all Coles stores are using large plastic checkout bags with recycled content. Bags are made from clean 'post industrial waste' (this is clean factory waste, half new and half off-cut and scrap). These bags are available in all Coles stores.