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| Could a money-back scheme clean up the UK's plastic bottle plague? | Could a money-back scheme clean up the UK's plastic bottle plague? |
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| Deposit return schemes for plastic bottles have been shown to cut litter and increase recycling in many countries – but not everyone agrees they’re a good idea | |
| Sandra Laville in London and | |
| Naaman Zhou in Sydney | |
| Thu 29 Jun 2017 10.14 BST | |
| Last modified on Thu 29 Jun 2017 14.39 BST | |
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| More than 4m plastic bottles a week could be prevented from littering streets and marine environments in Britain if authorities adopted the kind of deposit-return schemes that operate in at least a dozen other countries, according to new evidence. | More than 4m plastic bottles a week could be prevented from littering streets and marine environments in Britain if authorities adopted the kind of deposit-return schemes that operate in at least a dozen other countries, according to new evidence. |
| A report for the last parliament that was never published suggests there could be a dramatic reduction in the number of bottles littered if people paid a deposit that would be refunded if they returned used bottles. | A report for the last parliament that was never published suggests there could be a dramatic reduction in the number of bottles littered if people paid a deposit that would be refunded if they returned used bottles. |
| Dominic Hogg, chairman of the environmental consultants Eunomia, who produced the report for the environmental audit committee, said: “We need to address the significant impact of litter in the UK and to cut down on the sources of plastic entering the marine environment. | Dominic Hogg, chairman of the environmental consultants Eunomia, who produced the report for the environmental audit committee, said: “We need to address the significant impact of litter in the UK and to cut down on the sources of plastic entering the marine environment. |
| “A growing number of private companies are getting the message that it’s not good for business to be a brand that despoils the beaches and pollutes the oceans,” he said. “A deposit scheme will generate higher quantities of material of higher quality for recycling, with attendant benefits for the global climate.” | “A growing number of private companies are getting the message that it’s not good for business to be a brand that despoils the beaches and pollutes the oceans,” he said. “A deposit scheme will generate higher quantities of material of higher quality for recycling, with attendant benefits for the global climate.” |
| The calls for such a scheme come as recycling rates in Britain fell to 44% last year after flatlining for five years, according to Keep Britain Tidy. More than half of the 35m plastic bottles sold in Britain every day are not collected for recycling but instead are left as litter or put into landfill. | The calls for such a scheme come as recycling rates in Britain fell to 44% last year after flatlining for five years, according to Keep Britain Tidy. More than half of the 35m plastic bottles sold in Britain every day are not collected for recycling but instead are left as litter or put into landfill. |
| Recycling rates for plastic bottles in Britain stand at 57%, compared with more than 90% in countries that operate deposit return schemes such as Germany, Norway and Sweden. | Recycling rates for plastic bottles in Britain stand at 57%, compared with more than 90% in countries that operate deposit return schemes such as Germany, Norway and Sweden. |
| Deposit return schemes (DRS), through which consumers pay a small sum (equivalent to 10p or 20p) upon purchase which is refunded when they return a bottle or can, operate in at least a dozen countries including Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Australia. In Germany, where DRS machines are located in places such as supermarkets, 99% of plastic bottles are recycled. Recycling rates in the UK are currently at less than 50%. But a relatively small economic incentive has had a major impact in England – the 5p charge on plastic bags led to an 85% drop in the first six months alone. | Deposit return schemes (DRS), through which consumers pay a small sum (equivalent to 10p or 20p) upon purchase which is refunded when they return a bottle or can, operate in at least a dozen countries including Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Australia. In Germany, where DRS machines are located in places such as supermarkets, 99% of plastic bottles are recycled. Recycling rates in the UK are currently at less than 50%. But a relatively small economic incentive has had a major impact in England – the 5p charge on plastic bags led to an 85% drop in the first six months alone. |
| Coca-Cola in Britain and Europe has U-turned on deposit schemes and now supports adoption in the UK, after pressure from Greenpeace. “We believe a new approach is needed,” Coca-Cola said in a report to the environmental audit committee, before its inquiry into plastic bottles was dropped after the dissolution of parliament. | Coca-Cola in Britain and Europe has U-turned on deposit schemes and now supports adoption in the UK, after pressure from Greenpeace. “We believe a new approach is needed,” Coca-Cola said in a report to the environmental audit committee, before its inquiry into plastic bottles was dropped after the dissolution of parliament. |
| “From our experiences in other countries, we believe a well-designed, industry-run drinks container deposit return scheme (DRS) could help increase recycling and reduce littering.” | “From our experiences in other countries, we believe a well-designed, industry-run drinks container deposit return scheme (DRS) could help increase recycling and reduce littering.” |
| In Australia, users say the contrast between states with deposit schemes and those without is stark. Nina Springle, who lives in Victoria, said one thing you notice when entering from the neighbouring state of South Australia – which operates the country’s longest-running bottle refund scheme – is “you can see garbage as soon as you cross the border”. | In Australia, users say the contrast between states with deposit schemes and those without is stark. Nina Springle, who lives in Victoria, said one thing you notice when entering from the neighbouring state of South Australia – which operates the country’s longest-running bottle refund scheme – is “you can see garbage as soon as you cross the border”. |
| “There is a marked difference in the environmental landscape. In Victoria there’s a marked increase in the amount of plastic pollution that you see with the naked eye.” | “There is a marked difference in the environmental landscape. In Victoria there’s a marked increase in the amount of plastic pollution that you see with the naked eye.” |
| New South Wales and Queensland are introducing coordinated schemes in December this year and July 2018 respectively. Western Australia will introduce a scheme in 2018 too, and the system will be harmonised across all states. | New South Wales and Queensland are introducing coordinated schemes in December this year and July 2018 respectively. Western Australia will introduce a scheme in 2018 too, and the system will be harmonised across all states. |
| Drinks containers of up to three litres in volume will be eligible for a 10-cent refund if handed into an approved refund point, with the cost of the refunds borne by beverage manufacturers. | Drinks containers of up to three litres in volume will be eligible for a 10-cent refund if handed into an approved refund point, with the cost of the refunds borne by beverage manufacturers. |
| In South Australia, which has operated a deposit refund scheme for 40 years, the return rate is 76.5%. Steve Beaman of the New South Wales environment protection authority cites evidence showing that in states where bottle deposit schemes do not yet operate, drinks containers make up nearly half of the litter – 44% in Queensland and 49% in New South Wales – while in South Australia bottles amount to just 2.2%. | In South Australia, which has operated a deposit refund scheme for 40 years, the return rate is 76.5%. Steve Beaman of the New South Wales environment protection authority cites evidence showing that in states where bottle deposit schemes do not yet operate, drinks containers make up nearly half of the litter – 44% in Queensland and 49% in New South Wales – while in South Australia bottles amount to just 2.2%. |
| In Finland a small deposit – 40 cents for a 1.5 litre plastic bottle – is added to the price and consumers can return the bottles to specialist bottle banks in supermarkets with a barcode reader, which allows them to collect the money back as they drop the bottle. | In Finland a small deposit – 40 cents for a 1.5 litre plastic bottle – is added to the price and consumers can return the bottles to specialist bottle banks in supermarkets with a barcode reader, which allows them to collect the money back as they drop the bottle. |
| Carmen Espo, who lives in Helsinki, said she recycles all her plastic bottles either via a deposit scheme or by using the plastic recycling bin. “We need to show people that plastics are not necessarily single use,” she said. | Carmen Espo, who lives in Helsinki, said she recycles all her plastic bottles either via a deposit scheme or by using the plastic recycling bin. “We need to show people that plastics are not necessarily single use,” she said. |
| Similarly, in Norway, supermarkets often install “reverse vending machines” that scan barcodes and give consumers vouchers against their shopping or make a donation to charity in return for bottles. | Similarly, in Norway, supermarkets often install “reverse vending machines” that scan barcodes and give consumers vouchers against their shopping or make a donation to charity in return for bottles. |
| In Britain, concerns about a deposit scheme have been raised by local authorities who fear that the removal of plastic bottles – a high-value recycled product – from kerbside collections could make their own schemes uneconomical to run. | In Britain, concerns about a deposit scheme have been raised by local authorities who fear that the removal of plastic bottles – a high-value recycled product – from kerbside collections could make their own schemes uneconomical to run. |
| The Local Government Association said it would be seeking talks with manufacturers to get them to contribute to deposit schemes and recycling to offset any impact on the kerbside schemes. | The Local Government Association said it would be seeking talks with manufacturers to get them to contribute to deposit schemes and recycling to offset any impact on the kerbside schemes. |
| Detractors say that, while some countries with schemes achieve high levels of recycling, others have rates that are similar to or lower than Britain – 52% in Oregon and 61% in Hawaii – and that improving traditional kerbside collections is the best way to boost recycling rates. | Detractors say that, while some countries with schemes achieve high levels of recycling, others have rates that are similar to or lower than Britain – 52% in Oregon and 61% in Hawaii – and that improving traditional kerbside collections is the best way to boost recycling rates. |
| Stuart Foster of Recoup, which is funded by manufacturers and the recycling industry, said deposit schemes were a distraction. “We have a kerbside system, and there is so much more we can do to put in the infrastructure and get people to use the system we have,” he said. | Stuart Foster of Recoup, which is funded by manufacturers and the recycling industry, said deposit schemes were a distraction. “We have a kerbside system, and there is so much more we can do to put in the infrastructure and get people to use the system we have,” he said. |
| Foster said that in Wales, where plastic bottle recycling rates have reached 75% as a result of a consistent collection scheme, higher targets set by the Welsh government and increased funding was proof of how a well-run kerbside collection operation, with legislative and financial support, could work. | Foster said that in Wales, where plastic bottle recycling rates have reached 75% as a result of a consistent collection scheme, higher targets set by the Welsh government and increased funding was proof of how a well-run kerbside collection operation, with legislative and financial support, could work. |
| The British Plastics Federation (BPF) – which opposes any forms of taxes or charges on plastic bottles – accepts evidence that deposit schemes in Germany, Norway and Sweden achieve high rates of bottle recycling. But the trade body questioned whether a deposit scheme would have a significant impact on reducing plastic waste in Britain. | The British Plastics Federation (BPF) – which opposes any forms of taxes or charges on plastic bottles – accepts evidence that deposit schemes in Germany, Norway and Sweden achieve high rates of bottle recycling. But the trade body questioned whether a deposit scheme would have a significant impact on reducing plastic waste in Britain. |
| The BPF said: “The degree of recycling is not guaranteed, nor is the degree to which it will impact litter clearance costs or plastics in the oceans. DRS may well undermine existing kerbside schemes which aim to improve recycling of all packaging and not just a part of it.” | The BPF said: “The degree of recycling is not guaranteed, nor is the degree to which it will impact litter clearance costs or plastics in the oceans. DRS may well undermine existing kerbside schemes which aim to improve recycling of all packaging and not just a part of it.” |
| The federation said a full impact assessment was needed if a deposit scheme was to be considered in Britain. | The federation said a full impact assessment was needed if a deposit scheme was to be considered in Britain. |
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