The United Kingdom used to run a small scale scheme and California has a successful bottle deposit method in place.

Today (September 16) the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) published new research it says ‘clearly demonstrates’ a bottle deposit scheme could generate revenue to support most of its own running costs.

The new research report, ‘Have we got the bottle? Implementing a deposit refund scheme in the UK,’ was prepared by research consultants, Eunomia Research and Consulting.

The report suggests a deposit of 15p for containers smaller than 500ml and 30p for those larger would generate return rates of around 90%.

The research demonstrates how the scheme would help the Government achieve a ‘Zero Waste’ economy by increasing recycling rates, and reducing litter as promised in the Coalition’s ‘Programme for Government’.

The report highlights how the scheme would reduce costs to the public sector by £160 million a year (or £7 a household), while also reducing litter.

CPRE president, Bill Bryson, said: “These findings throw rational and informed light on an issue that is nonsensically contentious in the UK.

“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.”

Luke Walsh

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