The government confirmed that drinks containers made from PET plastic, steel, and aluminium cans will be in scope for England, Northern Ireland and Wales (see letsrecycle.com story).. The Welsh system will also include glass. The deposit will be returned once the empty container is returned to a return point.
LETTER
Dear Editor,
You reported government’s announcement of its new deposit return scheme policy but could have looked wider to offer a more complete picture.
First, the government justifies this policy based on a consultation but does not highlight that a majority of respondents questioned its own impact assessment. In other words, consumers are not likely to be as happy as assumed paying five to ten pounds extra every year. A lot of them are happier throwing waste into bins collected by councils from their homes. Younger people, poorer people and those living in flats would be especially concerned. This cost will not only be inflationary but is avoidable in the light of other waste reduction and recycling policies like the Plastic Packaging Tax and impending Extended Producer Responsibility.
Second, this will cause an upheaval in how we live, when not many are crying for it. People will pay extra money up-front with many not bothering to take it back. They will need to carry loads of waste containers to supermarkets. Shops will have to pay for space and instal fancy reverse vending machines and pay for maintenance and staff. Companies will have to find lorries and warehouses to take the waste back. And councils will lose money with bins less full and the same service needed.
Third, just about 15% of packaged waste is litter and just 4% of those littered items are drinks bottles and cans. Litter is predominantly cigarettes, chewing gums and wrappers of fast food and confectionery. Not only does all this seem like a sledgehammer to crack a nut but it would be a dangerous nut if glass bottles are included since they can break in taking back to shops or around the vending machines.
My committee has advised the government along these lines. We suggested that the Scottish experiment beginning in August this year – from some early reports not well received by many there – be watched to see if this was worth all the pain and effort. My committee and I are all for increasing recycling and reducing litter but think there are better and cheaper ways of doing that.
Best,
Deep Sagar
Chair, Advisory Committee on Packaging
Berkhamsted,
Buckinghamshire
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