Don’t bin bottle plan

Campaigners warn Gove as industry calls to water down recycling scheme

MORE than six billion plastic bottles a year could go unrecycled if ministers water down their new waste strategy, campaigners warn.

Defra, led by Environment Secretary Michael Gove, has launched a consultation on adding a 15p returnable deposit charge to the price of bottles and cans.

It would also bring in “reverse vending machines” to boost recycling rates.

But industry giants are lobbying for the scheme to exclude containers above 750ml and all milk bottles made from HDPE plastics. The Government admits this would result in at least six billion bottles a year being left out, meaning they would end up being littered or going to landfill and incinerators.

It also estimates the larger “all-in” plan would have an economic benefit of £9.4billion in its first 10 years, compared to £3billion for the other “on-the-go” option.

Greenpeace’s Sam Chetanwelsh said: “A watered-down scheme would confuse customers and allow billions of bottles to pollute the environment. The Environment Secretary must hold his nerve.”

Yesterday activists made their point by delivering a 29ft bottle to Defra’s offices in Westminster.

Tesco, Iceland and Co-op have backed the “all-in” plan.

But the British Retail Consortium claimed it could undermine existing recycling schemes.

MESSAGE Activists with their giant bottle yesterday