Paid bottle recycling scheme proposed
Wednesday, October 11, 2017 - 14:55:01
Consumers in the UK might soon be able to get cash back in return for taking their empty bottles to retailers if a government scheme gets put into action, according to the Sun.
A consultation on the concept of paying up to 6p for bottles made of recyclable materials including plastic and glass would not only reward people who want to do their bit for the environment, but would also help to boost recycling rates, which have stagnated in some parts of the country.
Incentivising recycling in this way is already common in many other countries. British people who have old mobile phones can sell them to avoid creating electronic waste, but dealing with the ever-mounting issue of drinks bottles has yet to be tackled in such a proactive manner.
A little over 30 years ago a deposit-style scheme was in action across the UK but was phased out in the 1980s. With just 50 per cent of the billions of plastic bottles sold each year nationally being recycled at the moment, there is clearly a need to close the gap.
Critics have claimed that the upfront cost of popular drinks will need to be increased in order to make the scheme workable, which may well be the case. But for many this will be seen as a price worth paying, since it will make recycling more popular and will, ultimately, mean that consumers are not left out of pocket.
The 5p charge for plastic bags which was introduced a few years ago was met with some resistance of a similar kind, but it has been effective in reducing the generation of waste and also in changing consumer habits. If a reward for bottle recycling is introduced then it could have a similarly beneficial impact.
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