AN INDEPENDENT gift shop is going above and beyond to improve local people’s recycling habits.

Matthias Winter, a design-led, eco-friendly and accessories shop based on Hallstile Bank, in Hexham, has launched a partnership with recycling company Terracycle.

As part of the partnership, the store will be used as a drop-off point for food wrappers that can’t normally be recycled.

The items Matthias Winter is requesting are:

l All brands of crisp packet (not popcorn, pretzel or meat snack bags);

l All brands of non-savoury biscuit wrapper;

l All brands of cracker wrapper;

l All brands of cake wrapper;

l Pringles food tubes.

The store can only accept flexible, plastic packaging and cardboard, which can be recycled through local council recycling schemes, cannot be dropped off.

Alison Smith, owner of Matthias Winter, said: “As a business, we want to be doing all we can to help with the environmental issues we need to face into.

“We are trying hard to eliminate single-use plastic and are favouring suppliers who choose to use recyclable packaging.

“We are delighted to provide this recycling facility to customers for plastic food packaging that you can’t recycle elsewhere.”

Those who drop items to recycle in store will receive a five per cent discount of purchases.