Bottle deposits could start next year in war on plastic

A DEPOSIT and return scheme for plastic bottles could be introduced in Wales as early as next year.

The initiative is being considered by the principality’s government, which was the first in Britain to introduce a 5p charge on plastic bags.

The Scottish government has already signalled it wants a charge on plastic bottles and drinks cans to mirror schemes in Germany and Scandinavia.

At the same time, the drinks giant Coca-Cola has reversed its opposition to the plan, saying a deposit and refund scheme, or DRS, is essential to boost plastic bottle collection and recycling.

Many Conservative MPs in Westminster, particularly those with coastal constituencies, support the idea as part of a wider effort to cut down on the pollution of beaches and the oceans.

The Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, has described such as scheme as a ‘great idea’ and set up a working group to investigate whether to press ahead.

It would be enormously difficult for the Westminster Government to say no, should Wales and Scotland go ahead with the measure.

Supermarkets in Germany and Scandinavia offer so-called reverse vending machines. Users feed in bottles and cans and receive a token to be redeemed at the till.

The Welsh Assembly’s environment minister Lesley Griffiths said she is considering both a DRS for bottles and cans as well as a ground breaking ‘plastic tax’ on producers. Essentially, a levy would be applied on firms making plastic packaging.

Miss Griffiths told Sky News: ‘We need to make sure that producers look at what they’re producing. And if we need to tax, we have those powers in Wales.

‘The second thing is a deposit return scheme for bottles but I need to make sure there are no unintended consequences.’

The Mail has turned the spotlight on the dangers to the environment, wildlife and food in certain products. Its Banish the Bags campaign led to the 5p charge being introduced. It has also campaigned against microbeads and throwaway coffee cups.

Head of wildlife at the RSPCA, Adam Grogan, said: ‘Our officers are regularly called out to deal with horrifying injuries and deaths of seals and seabirds which have become entangled in, or have eaten, plastic marine litter.’

Research from the University of Plymouth found that more than one in three fish caught by trawlers in the English Channel, including cod, haddock and mackerel, contained plastic particles, most likely from their diet.