Bury St Edmunds-based brewer Greene King saves more than 240,000 plastic tubs from landfill in recycling campaign Tub2Pub

Bury St Edmunds-based brewer Greene King has collected a record number of plastic containers in its annual Tub2Pub recycling initiative for the fifth year running.

The polypropylene sweets and crackers tubs cannot be easily recycled in kerbside collections so members of the public were invited to drop them off at their local Greene King pub to save them from landfill and also raise money for charity.

Tub2Pub, which ran from January to mid-February, saw more than 240,000 tubs collected, equating to 27,990kg tonnes of plastic, which is more than all previous years’ collections combined.

Proceeds from the sale of the recycled plastic granules has raised £10,916.10 for Greene King’s charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support.

Individuals, schools, community groups and businesses throughout the country have collected the plastic tubs left over from Christmas and new year celebrations for Tub2Pub.

Vance Fairman-Smith, Greene King’s group supply chain director, said: “What a year this has been.

“These results show what can be achieved when businesses and communities work together. Huge thanks to everyone who has collected these tubs and taken them to their local pub.

“The beauty of Tub2Pub is its simplicity. Don’t put the tub in the rubbish bin, just take it to your local and you’re doing your bit for the planet and people.”

Highlights from this year’s campaign include 2,500 tubs collected by six-year-old Teddy, of Hampshire.

His desire to ‘save the planet’ sparked a large media interest and his story was documented and broadcasted on BBC TV and online news stories.

Teddy visited a recycling plant to see tubs being shredded and was given a surprise presentation of a buddy bench made from recycled tubs for his school.

Kate Lightfoot, Macmillan Cancer Support’s senior partnership development manager said: “Who knew empty sweet tubs could be so powerful?

“Tub2Pub is a brilliant, quirky way to bring people together, and raise money for Macmillan.

“Thank you to everyone who took their tubs into Greene King pubs, this is quite possibly the ‘sweetest’ recycling drive ever.

“Every tub represents not only a step towards a more sustainable future, but also a tangible contribution to Macmillan's work.

“Our partnership with Greene King continues to make a real difference and proves that activity like Tub2Pub harnesses a powerful wave of positive change.”

Tub2Pub has saved more than 470,000 tubs from landfill and raised £34,824.90 for Macmillan Cancer Support.