United Biscuits (UB), the biscuits and cake manufacturer, has reached the one million milestone in its recycling plan.

The McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade scheme, in partnership with TerraCycle, is designed to save biscuit wrappers from UK landfill and recycle them into new products.

The company has now collected one million wrappers amounting to a total weight of 2.5 tonnes – equal to four-and-a-half Fiat 500 cars.

Launched in 2012, the partnership was established as UK councils currently do not have the infrastructure to recycle this type of waste packaging.

The TerraCycle process means consumers can take their wrappers to the nearest drop off location or send wrappers individually. Two points are given for every wrapper sent in, with each point redeemable as a 1p contribution to the school, charity or non-profit organisation of the sender’s choice. So far more than £35,000 has been raised.

The wrappers are then recycled into plastic product, including park benches, watering cans and waste bins.

Jon Eggleton, United Biscuits’ managing director UK, said: “We are delighted on the progress to date of the McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade. The programme has been embraced by people all over the UK to save used biscuit wrappers from landfill, increasing environmental awareness and raising over £35,000 to help support a variety of schools, charities and non-profit organisations.”