‘I’ve got 583 billion outside’

PLASTIC bottles must be taxed more highly than glass bottles and tins, campaigners have said, amid fears that new charges will not stem the tide of plastic pollution.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, yesterday announced a deposit return scheme in which consumers will pay up to 22p more for single use bottles, and get the money back when they return containers for recycling.

The scheme, which will be similar to those operating in countries such as Germany and Sweden, will include tin and glass. But campaigners said that could distract from the problem of plastic entering the oceans.

Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, said: “Glass bottles and aluminium cans are already widely recycled, unlike most plastics. This means a higher deposit should be required for plastic bottles.

“No matter how many times a plastic bottle is re-used or recycled it will almost always end up in the environment. Instead we have to turn off the plastic tap.”

A poll by Ipsos MORI also revealed that while the majority of Britons are concerned about plastic waste in the environment, few welcome interventions that would cost them money.

The survey of 1,681 adults aged 16 to 75 found that seven in eight claim to be at least “fairly concerned” about the issue, but just 3per cent say the problem should be solved by consumers.

Just two in five believe a tax on containers such as plastic bottles and coffee cups would be effective.

While 47 per cent of the public think forcing councils to spend more on recycling would help, only 14 per cent would willingly pay more council tax.