Hereford and South Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman recently toured Wiltshire Farm Foods' Ross-on-Wye depot to witness the company's ground-breaking recycling system, which turns used food trays into new ones. The company's dedication to reducing waste has not only won them praise from the MP but has also struck a chord with their primarily elderly customer base.

During the visit, Jesse Norman MP had the opportunity to see the service the home meals delivery company offers to his constituents. He was also shown the plastic trays collected from customers, which are part of the company's innovative closed-loop recycling programme. These trays are sent to a specialised facility in Durham, where they are recycled into new trays containing at least 80 per cent recycled plastic.

Jesse Norman MP said, "Wiltshire Farm Foods do a terrific job of serving my constituents, and this is a fantastic recycling project, for which they deserve warm congratulations."

Lee Sheppard, Director of Corporate Affairs, Policy and Sustainability for Wiltshire Farm Foods, detailed the company's recycling efforts. "Our closed-loop recycling scheme demonstrates the serious approach we've taken to reducing waste within our packaging. In just over one year of operation, we have successfully collected over ten million meal trays back from our customers and are seeing collection rates close to 50 per cent," he said.

The company prides itself on being environmentally conscious, especially with its packaging. Wiltshire Farm Foods is one of the few food companies that do not use secondary packaging like cardboard sleeves. Even the boxes used for meal deliveries are reused multiple times before being recycled.

The customer base of Wiltshire Farm Foods, with an average age of 82, is keen on supporting environmental initiatives. The company's recycling scheme has proven more effective than kerbside collection, making them a leader in waste reduction.

Wiltshire Farm Foods serves more than 150,000 customers nationwide, offering a wide range of meals, including traditional favourites and popular desserts. About 10,700 of their customers are over the age of 75 and reside in the Hereford and South Herefordshire constituency.