16/09/10 CPRE's Deposit Refund report launched
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has today (Thursday) published new research that clearly demonstrates that a drink container deposit refund scheme (DRS) would greatly reduce litter and increase recycling rates.
Under such a scheme consumers would pay a small refundable deposit when buying drinks sold in glass bottles, plastic bottles and cans. Running costs of around 0.8p per container would be supported by revenue from unclaimed deposits. By increasing recycling rates and reducing litter the scheme would also help the Government to achieve a ‘Zero Waste’ economy whilst reducing public sector costs by £160 million per year.
The report, ‘Have we got the bottle? Implementing a deposit refund scheme in the UK,’ was prepared by respected research consultants, Eunomia Research & Consulting and concludes that a sensibly implemented DRS would deliver environmental benefits well in excess of the costs of implementation.
When questioned in Parliament about the report, Prime Minister David Cameron described it as an “interesting suggestion” and said that he would ask the Minister to investigate its possible introduction.
Bill Bryson, CPRE President, says: “These findings throw rational and informed light on an issue that is nonsensically contentious in the UK. What sensible nation would not want to capture and recycle its precious and finite resources? What discerning people would not want to enjoy a litter-free environment?”
“CPRE has published this research to reignite the debate, so that an effective mechanism which delivers environmental and social benefits in many other countries can be given its proper consideration in the UK.”
Dominic Hogg, Eunomia Director and principle researcher for the report, says: “At the moment Council Tax payers meet the costs of recycling, clean-up of litter and landfill, irrespective of their purchases. But under a drinks container deposit refund scheme, the costs of dealing with beverage packaging would be met by industry, and by those who forego their right to the refund of their deposit. Litter rates would fall, our streets would be cleaner and recycling rates would increase dramatically.”
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