Hot on the heels of last week’s confirmation that a ban on single-use plastics will be introduced in October this year, the Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow has outlined plans to boost recycling of plastic bottles and drinks cans through a new deposit return scheme.
International examples show that a deposit return scheme can become a simple part of daily life to make recycling easier, with recycling rates above 90% in Germany, Finland and Norway. Current recycling rates for drinks containers in the UK sit at around 70%. The UK government’s consultation found that 83% of respondents were in favour of introducing such a scheme.
The plans set out in its consultation response detail that, through small cash deposits placed on single-use drinks containers, people will likely be incentivised to recycle their drinks bottles and cans, reducing litter and plastic pollution.
The scheme would include the use of reverse vending machines, and designated sites where people can return their bottles and receive their cash back. In most cases it would be the retailers who sell drinks covered by the scheme who would host a return point.
Every year UK consumers go through an estimated 14 billion plastic drinks bottles and nine billion drinks cans, many of which are littered or condemned to landfill.
The new scheme, covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is set to be introduced in 2025, following extensive work with industry to prepare for the necessary changes - including setting up infrastructure and amending labelling. It aims to ensure 85% fewer drinks containers are discarded as litter just three years after its launch.
Focus will now turn to bringing forward legislation and beginning the appointment process of the Deposit Management Organisation - an independent, industry-led organisation, which will be established to run the scheme. The Deposit Management Organisation will set the amount for the refundable deposit.
Gavin Partington, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association, says: “We welcome Defra’s commitment to introducing an all-in can/PET deposit return scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. By kickstarting the UK’s circular economy for drinks containers, the Deposit Return Scheme will help consumers play their part in ensuring the containers they buy are returned for recycling. We look forward to working with officials to help guarantee its success.”
