Ministers are under growing pressure to curb the plastic bottle menace – after Scotland announced a new deposit scheme.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a deposit and return scheme, to encourage the public to return empty bottles, would be introduced to slash waste.
The announcement sparked calls for a similar scheme for the rest of the UK. Former Tory chairman Grant Shapps yesterday urged the government to follow suit.
This summer Environment Secretary Michael Gove said a deposit and return scheme was a ‘great idea’ but he wanted to make sure it works properly before guaranteeing he will bring one in.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (centre) said a deposit and return scheme, to encourage the public to return empty bottles, would be introduced to slash waste
Mr Shapps said he ‘very much’ hoped England would follow Scotland with a deposit return scheme for bottles and cans. He said it was ‘long overdue in my view’.
Action on plastic bottles was also endorsed last night in a policy pamphlet published yesterday by the Conservative Environment Network, a group of activists and MPs.
In an article, Tory MP Victoria Prentis said ministers should impose a charge on plastic bottles similar to the 5p levy on plastic bags.
Mrs Prentis, who is a ministerial aide at the Department for Transport, wrote: ‘It might be we need to consider an extra duty on disposable plastic bottles to see similar results’
Action on plastic bottles was also endorsed last night in a policy pamphlet published yesterday by the Conservative Environment Network, a group of activists and MPs
She urged the public to ‘get a reusable plastic bottle and learn to steer away from disposable alternatives’, and said public need to ‘move away from our addiction to convenience’.
‘Our responsibility now is to embrace a cleaner and more sustainable way of life, choosing to move away from our addiction to convenience.
‘Only then will we be able to improve our quality of life, increase productivity, and help reverse the devastating effects on wildlife. In my opinion, forgoing bottled water for that is a small price to pay.’
Miss Sturgeon’s return scheme will apply to plastic and glass bottles, as well as aluminium cans. She said it would ‘do more to support the circular economy and reduce waste’.
‘I can confirm today that we will design and introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, as an important part of our determination to tackle litter and clean up our streets,’ she said.
The UK currently recycles just 57 per cent of the millions of bottles sold each day. The rest end up in landfill or as litter.
‘Our responsibility now is to embrace a cleaner and more sustainable way of life, choosing to move away from our addiction to convenience’, said Tory MP Victoria Prentis
Under deposit schemes a surcharge is levied on bottles and cans. Customers get their money back if they return the empties to collection points in stores.
Studies in Europe and elsewhere show that such initiatives can push recycling rates up to 98 per cent.
A Defra spokesman said: ‘We are making great strides in tackling plastic pollution, taking nine billion plastic bags out of circulation with our 5p carrier bag. We have also boosted recycling rates for plastic bottles with their collection for recycling rising from less than 13,000 tonnes in 2000 to over 330,000 tonnes in 2015.’
Studies in Europe and elsewhere show that deposit and return initiatives can push recycling rates up to 98 per cent
‘As part of our national litter strategy launched in April we are considering further the practical ways in which we can deal with the worst kinds of litter including plastic bottles.’
Willie Mackenzie, oceans expert at Greenpeace UK, said: ‘Governments are waking up to the frightening scale of ocean plastic pollution and it’s brilliant to see Scotland leading the way in helping to tackle it.
‘Today’s announcement by the First Minister is a massive step in stopping plastic pollution, and the result of tireless campaigning by many groups and individuals.
‘With businesses and an overwhelming majority of the public in favour of deposit schemes, the Scottish Government now has a mandate to implement as robust a system as possible to help reduce plastic pollution. Hopefully it won’ t be too long before the rest of the UK follows suit.’