ENVIRONMENTALISTS left a heap of rubbish on the doorstep of Waitrose in a bid to get the supermarket to do more to encourage recycling.

Transition Marlborough targeted Waitrose in the High Street to campaign for the company to change the type of material being used in some of its packaging.

The shop’s ‘widely recyclable’ logo-d plastic is not accepted by recycling centres in Wiltshire because it does not specify what type of plastic is used in the packaging.

As part of an ocean-themed flashmob on Saturday morning, the group delivered several bags worth of plastic to the shop doors.

Sam Page, of Transition Marlborough said: “The new recycling rules for Wiltshire specify that only plastic bottles can be put into kerb-side recycling and only marked plastic packaging can be recycled at household recycling centres.

“We are also extremely concerned that we will have to wait until 2025 for Waitrose to eliminate single use plastic packaging on their own brands. We have called on Waitrose to implement Greenpeace UK’s recommendations for supermarkets as soon as possible.”

Richard Ryman, of Waitrose customer care, said: “This is an issue we’re taking very seriously at the highest level in our business and we know our customers are too.

“We’ve committed to making all our own-label packaging widely recyclable (using the widely recycled logo) reusable, or home compostable by 2025, and there is a lot we have done or will be doing before this date.”

Greenpeace UK wants all non-recyclable plastics to be eliminated from own brand products, and is pushing for the removal of single use packaging in supermarkets.

The charity supports the trial of reusable packaging and a deposit return scheme in stores for water bottles. Transition Marlborough is working to champion sustainable living and has campaigned for better air quality in Marlborough as well as promoting recycling.