Wales can lead with deposit return scheme

REGARDING your story ‘Majority of Welsh councils hit recycling target early’ (Western Mail, August 25) I’m pleased to see Plaid Cymruled Ceredigion council is top of the recycling league in Wales. The county is recycling 70% of its waste and hitting the 2025 target nine years early.

Wales is showing the way to the world when it comes to recycling, and Ceredigion is innovative in its approach and leading the way nationally.

Congratulations to Coun Alun Williams, Ceredigion cabinet member for carbon management and sustainability, and his team.

We must do more. Here in Wales we now have considerable powers to reduce our use, and waste of, plastics, which we are not using.

The single most effective action would be to recycle all plastic bottles, which account for 33% of marine litter, through a deposit return scheme. Earlier this year I secured majority support in principle in the Assembly for a deposit return scheme.

A deposit return scheme would mean customers pay a small additional charge for plastic bottles. They would be paid back when they return the empties. This would encourage people who do not already recycle and will introduce an element of resource saving into our economy. This scheme could be available for plastic cans and bottles, as well as metal and glass ones.

I’m calling on the Labour Government in Wales to consider the introduction of such a scheme so Wales can continue to lead the way in the world when it comes to recycling our waste. Simon Thomas Mid and West AM, Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Secretary Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs