Victory for the Mail as Coca-Cola backs bottle deposit plan
COCA-COLA performed a major U-turn yesterday, throwing its weight behind a deposit and refund scheme for plastic bottles and cans.
The drinks giant says it will support a trial in Scotland which could be rolled out across the country.
The British Soft Drinks Association, which speaks for other firms such as Britvic, has also reconsidered its stance and is now ‘open-minded’ to the idea.
Supermarkets, however, which originally objected to the successful 5p charge on plastic bags, remain opposed.
Anti-litter and environment groups say Coca-Cola’s decision, which follows a series of campaigning articles by the Daily Mail, represents a remarkable change in policy.
The move comes after customer surveys which found two in three people support the idea of a deposit and refund system, or DRS.
The Scottish government is now likely to approve trials, which could start as early as next year.
Countries such as Germany, Norway and Sweden already run successful schemes. Plastic bottle collection in these countries is more than 85 per cent, compared to less than 60 per cent in the UK, where recycling rates have stalled.
Every day in the UK, 15million plastic bottles are dumped after just one use, rather than being recycled – that’s 5billion a year.
Just last week advisers close to the Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said that although she is alarmed about plastic bottle litter, she is sceptical about introducing a deposit scheme.
But with Coca-Cola’s backing, and the mounting evidence of economic benefits, ministers might rethink their positions.
Only last year Coca-Cola was lobbying politicians against implementing a DRS.
It suggested it would fight such schemes because the resulting higher prices for bottles and cans of soft drinks would hit sales.
But now it is supporting trials as part of a wider effort to boost plastic recycling and tackle litter.
Coca-Cola said: ‘It’s already clear from our conversations with experts that the time is right to trial new interventions such as a well- designed deposit return scheme for drinks containers, starting in Scotland where conversations are under way.’
The firm said the public is behind the idea, adding: ‘We’ve also been talking to and listening to our consumers and know 63 per cent of them support the introduction of a deposit return system in the UK.’ The US giant said it has also taken steps to improve packaging by making all its bottles and cans completely recyclable.
Louise Edge of Greenpeace said: ‘ We absolutely welcome this change of heart. Deposit schemes, which have growing support amongst the public, politicians and industry, can play a key role in reducing the amount of plastic which ends up in our oceans and in landfill.’
Dr Sue Kinsey of the Marine Conservation Society said: ‘A properly designed DRS will reduce litter on our beaches and in our seas as well as increase recycling rates, reduce carbon emissions and deliver good value for local authorities and taxpayers.’
A petition set up by Surfers Against Sewage calling for a DRS was signed by more than 200,000 people in just one month.
The Daily Mail revealed earlier this week that the boss of one of Britain’s biggest household waste collection firms, Suez, is backing a DRS. David Palmer- Jones said: ‘It puts pounds in the pockets of both households and business through reduced waste disposal costs and reduced need to buy virgin raw materials.’
Mr Palmer- Jones, former chairman of the UK trade body for recycling businesses, added a scheme would save councils millions in waste collection. Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association, Gavin Partington, said he accepted the schemes work in some countries.
He said there might be difficulties in bringing them here but, significantly, added: ‘We are openminded and ready to consider the best options to reduce littering and increase recycling in the UK.’
But Andrew Opie, of the British Retail Consortium, which speaks for supermarkets, said: ‘Low recycling rates and litter need to be tackled head- on but quick fix solutions won’t tackle the root of the problem.’
Coca-Cola plot to kill off bottle deposits The Mail, January 26 Waste giant backs deposit scheme for plastic bottles From Monday’s Mail