Olympics sailing star backs calls for plastic bottle deposit scheme

TOP water sports groups and an Olympic gold medallist have joined forces to demand a deposit and return scheme for bottles and cans.

They have written to Environment Secretary Michael Gove backing a scheme for cans and plastic and glass bottles to protect the marine environment.

Signatories include Sir Ben Ainslie’s British yachting team, Land Rover BAR, which was set up by the four-time Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winner.

It joins a coalition of sports bodies, including the Royal Yachting Association, the British Sub-Aqua Club, the Outdoor Swimming Society, Surfing England, Surfers Against Sewage, the Marine Conservation Society UK, the Blue Marine Foundation, and Fathoms Free. The letter was organised by Hugo Tagholm, of Surfers Against Sewage, who said: ‘The time for action is now.’

Scottish ministers have promised to introduce a deposit and return scheme (DRS) for cans and plastic and glass bottles, and Mr Gove is looking at whether it could be introduced in England.

But the sports and conservation groups fear ministers are dragging their feet. Their letter says: ‘We represent surfers, swimmers, kayakers, sailors, divers and other recreashould tional water users, and we know from sometimes painful experience the problems empty cans and bottles cause.’

They said some countries with the schemes have return rates of well over 90 per cent.

Local council groups and members of the plastics and packaging industry want the Government to limit a DRS to small plastic bottles and not include glass or cans.

But the coalition said: ‘ The most successful deposit systems include all three.’

It believes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland