Boots is set to be rolling out a new reward scheme in more than 800 of its UK stores in response to customer demand.

People will soon be able to recycle blister packs from any brand in the relevant stores.

Those who have a Boots Advantage Card will receive a reward of 100 Advantage Card points – or £1 – every time they hand in five empty blister packs in one deposit and spend £5 in-store.

After the blister packs or other empty health and beauty containers have been dropped off at Boots stores, they are sent to MYGroup, who separate the plastic and the foil.

Blister packs cannot typically be recycled through household kerbside collectionsBlister packs cannot typically be recycled through household kerbside collections (Image: Getty Images)

Blister packs cannot typically be recycled through household kerbside collections because of their combination of plastic and foil.

This makes them complicated to process, meaning they usually go to landfill or incineration.

MYGroup will be able to turn the recycled plastic into a material called MYBoardTM.

This has a wide range of uses such as playground equipment, furniture, and construction materials.

Meanwhile, the foil taken from the blister packs can be immediately reused.

Candice Smith, from Boots, said: “Taking medicines or vitamins in blister pack packaging is an essential part of everyday life for many of us – even more so during the winter when it is peak cough, cold season.

Recommended reading:

“We know from our pilot scheme that people want a recycling solution for their empty blister packs, which is why we’re now making it available in towns and cities across the country.

“We look forward to seeing the recycled blister packs take on a new life as playground equipment and furniture.”

Boots joins other retailers including Superdrug and Aldi in running blister pack recycling initiatives.