A crisp packet recycling scheme used to raise funds for schools and charities is set to end next month.

The Wildwood Trust, the Kent Air Ambulance and some schools and nurseries across Kent have all received funds from the programme in recent years.

Recycling giant TerraCycle launched the crisp packet recycling scheme back in December 2018, and since then they have collected millions of empty wrappers from across the country.

There are around 20 drop off centres across Kent, many at local schools and nurseries who collect the wrappers and are paid per kilogram for their collections.

Once at the recycling plant, the crisp packets are separated by plastic type, cleaned, and made into plastic pellets which can be used to make new recycled products.

Many of the wrappers are given a second life as plants pots, outdoor furniture, and equipment for playgrounds.

However, TerraCycle has now announced that the scheme will be coming to an end on Monday, April 25.

It says that this is "in light of the progress in flexible plastic recycling".

Flexible plastics are anything that can be scrunched, like a plastic bag or indeed crisp packets.

These have always been more difficult to recycle than hard plastics.

They cannot be recycled mechanically in a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF); the recycling route for most post-consumer plastic, as they wrap themselves around moving machinery, causing it to malfunction.

An investment into infrastructure and The Plastics Pact target for 10% of post-consumer flexible plastics to be collected at supermarkets by the end of 2022 has led to a rise in the recycling of flexible plastics.

Since the scheme began, the Kent Air Ambulance has received more than £26,000 in funding from around 3.5 million crisp packets.

Helene Poursain from Air Ambulance Kent Sussex Surrey, said: "As an independent charity we rely heavily on public support to raise the £15.2 million it costs each year to sustain our world-leading, cutting edge, innovative service.

"We’ve been extremely fortunate to have benefited from the crisp packet recycling scheme and would like to send our heartfelt thanks to all of the amazing people across Kent who’ve donated their crisp packets to help support us.

"We also send our heartfelt thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers who have made our involvement in this scheme possible."

The Air Ambulance team are now looking at alternative options to continue the fundraising efforts.

Claire Holmes had started recycling for cash at her school in Longfield

Langafel C of E Primary School in Longfield had joined the crisp packet recycling scheme to raise money to put towards their Thrive Approach programme which supports the mental and social wellbeing of pupils.

By the beginning of March they had collected more than 111,300 pieces of waste and raised £855.15.

Pastoral lead at the schoool, Claire Holmes said the money gave the school the chance to buy smaller, specific things tailored to youngsters' individual needs to bring them a little joy in the tough times.

Parents were also getting more involved in the scheme by separating their rubbish at home for children to take into school - Mum Emma Morrow said that she wasn't a "big recycler" but knowing the money was going to the school and making a difference was an incentive.

With so many people getting on board the scheme and starting to recycle in a bid to raise money, Liz O'Hanlon from the Rainham Eco Hub believes that the end of the initiative is "a real shame".

She said: "I think it's a big kick in the teeth to all the local people who've opened their doors and been kind enough to welcome people to do this.

"By removing schemes like this, it removes local people's ability to be able to feel that they individually can make a difference and it's important that people realise and appreciate that they absolutely can.

"It seems to be when things like this become successful they're stopped but I also hope that these people's energies don't feel like they've been wasted.

"I hope people feel that their energy will now go into another local project or another campaign that will allow them to feel that they can make a difference."

Stuart Jeffery from the Maidstone Green Party added that he is concerned this could lead to a rise in litter on our streets.

He said: "It is a real shame that this scheme is closing. Recycling is one of the key ways to reduce waste, waste that is causing severe pollution in our seas, land and air.

"As someone who leads a litter picking scheme, I have seen the level of litter increasing. We need support to reduce waste."

However, TerraCycle says that although this scheme is ending, there are still plenty of opportunities to join in the recycling mission.

A spokesman added: "Over the past year, more and more flexible plastic recycling points have been established at supermarket locations nationwide.

"This has created a network of more than 3,500 locations, meaning crisp packets can now be dropped off for recycling, along with all other types of flexible plastic, at any of these locations.

"In light of this progress in recycling flexible plastics, our brand partner Walkers is closing the scheme but it will continue to invest in other initiatives that can help ensure its packaging never becomes waste."