The Government has announced that it intends to implement a bottle deposit scheme in England, in an effort to cut waste and improve recycling rates.
The move, which has been suggested for a number of months, is not yet legislation – a consultation will be held to work out details and price of the deposit.
Single-use glass and plastic bottles, as well as steel and aluminium cans, are likely to be covered as part of the proposal. Customers pay extra, although the money can be redeemed when the bottle or can is returned.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said, ‘We have already banned harmful microbeads and cut plastic bag use, and now we want to take action on plastic bottles to help clean up our oceans.
‘We need to see a change in attitudes and behaviour. And the evidence shows that reward and return schemes are a powerful agent of change.’
Environmental groups have also welcomed the news, with Samantha Harding, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, calling it ‘a brilliant and significant decision’, while Elena Polisano, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, labelled it ‘positive’, adding, ‘Both the public and businesses are in favour of a strong deposit return scheme, which is a tried and tested way to increase recycling rates.’
The consultation will include discussions with local authorities on how the scheme might impact kerbside recycling collections, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs confirmed.
Similar schemes operate in other countries, including Norway, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
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