Recycle old idea
THERE is nothing new under the sun but sometimes the lessons have to be learned all over again.
The deposit return scheme that the Scottish Government propose for drinks cans and bottles will bring back memories of the pennies that could be obtained for returning glass bottles many years ago.
But what we saw as buttons for “ginger” bottles, the Swedes have taken to another level. They have built up a sophisticated deposit and return scheme that sees households and charities rewarded when reverse vending machines at supermarkets swallow, sort and compress used containers.
The scheme is an investment in financial terms but for the sake of the environment, the payback is immeasurable. The kudos of being the first part of the UK to introduce such a scheme won’t be lost on the First Minister either.
The deposit return scheme is a win-win for everyone and there should be no delay in introducing it.
equivalent of about 10p for every can or bottle they return to a reverse vending machine.
The machines, which are sited at food retailers across Sweden, collect 95 per cent of the bottles and cans to be processed.
They swallow cans and plastic bottles, separate, crush and compact them and spill them into a container for collection.
Sara Larsson-Nwajei is a cashier at an outlet for the convenience store chain Hemköp.
Her store in the village of Vagnhärad has one of 50 bulk machines in the country which can process 100 bottles and cans a minute.
Sara, 27, said: “People love it. After parties, they turn up with big bags and they like to get all that money back.
“The planet is going to hell faster and faster – why wouldn’t we try to stop that?”
All plastic bottles and metal cans sold in Sweden must adhere to the scheme.
Because materials are already separated, they avoid the crosscontamination which sees too much of what we select for recycling ending up in landfill sites or incinerated.
Social worker Catarina Lack, 31, uses an option on the reverse vending machine to donate the deposit to charity rather than taking the redeemable voucher.
She said: “It is a good way to donate and help the environment. I would never, ever throw away a can or plastic bottle.”
Catarina lives in Norrkoping, a city the size of Dundee, and its litter-free streets reflect the clean culture ingrained in Swedes.
In Sweden, the ritual of hauling bags of cans and bottles to the machines is so common that there is a verb for it – panta, from pant, which is Swedish for deposit.
Their scheme is administered by Returpack, a private, one per cent profit partnership of the grocery and brewery industry.
Their campaign, Pantamera – “deposit more” – is as recognisable a branding in Sweden as Ikea.
Through their recycling plant in Norrköping, they process all of Sweden’s’ deposit returns.
There were 1.85billion cans and bottles last year – the highest return rate in the world.
Musicians from rappers to Swedish glam rockers The Ark have recorded the Pantamera song and it is such an effective ear worm that any Swede can sing it.
Campaigners including Greenpeace, Zero Waste Scotland and the Green Alliance have long been whistling the same tune.
The scheme is already being piloted in Scotland.
Libby Peake, senior policy adviser for Green Alliance, said the deposit scheme is one of the most effective ways of keeping plastic out of the oceans.
She added: “It’s great that the Scottish Government are planning to introduce a scheme.
“We need everyone to work together – businesses, citizens and governments across the UK – to make sure the system works.”
Envipco have more than 4000 reverse vending machines in Sweden.
Chief executive Gool Santchurn said: “The deposit return scheme has seen recycling rates for cans and plastic bottles improve dramatically.
“It’s good for the environment and is a system Scotland could potentially learn from.”
The single machines cost £10,000 and the bulk machines are £100,000. But stores make the money back through a handling fee and extra footfall.
The UK’s tax on sugary drinks means shoppers are already being asked to pay 18p to 24p more a litre. The deposit could add another 10p or 20p. The Scottish Wholesale Association say the added cost to industry and consumers is unnecessary here as we have invested millions in kerbside collections.
But we throw out more than 10 wheelie bins full of recyclable waste per household a year, costing councils £54million to send it to incineration or landfill.
It will take investment to have Scotland singing the Pantamera song – but it won’t cost the Earth.
Recycling rates have improved dramatically GOOL SANTCHUM ON DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME