Parking firm trials plastic bottle payment

Got a collection of plastic bottles sitting around? You may soon be able to cash in and use them to pay for your parking, with one firm having launched a trial scheme to do just that.

CitiPark, which operates parking facilities in Leeds, Manchester, Watford and London, has chosen one of its Leeds locations to recycle empty bottles in exchange for parking vouchers.

Situated in the Merrion Centre shopping complex, the firm will give a 20p voucher for each empty bottle sized 500ml or over — with no limit on the number of bottles able to be brought in. The firm will also accept smaller bottles for recycling, but these will not be eligible for the payment trial.

The trial has been running for the duration of October — as part of an initiative within the shopping centre, which is seeing a number of retailers and organisations at the complex taking part in sustainable activities.

CitiPark says the plastic bottles it takes in will be recycled into usable items ‘such as shirts, toys and even chairs’.

Charlotte-Daisy Ziff, head of corporate social responsibilities at CitiPark parent company Town Centre Securities, said: “Here at CitiPark we believe that we all have a part to play in ensuring the preservation and betterment of our environment for future generations.

“So this promotion not only offers our customers the chance of free/discounted parking, but they can also get rid of their waste plastic bottles and contribute to the protection of the environment at the same time: it’s a win-win all around! We hope that as many people as possible will get on board.”