Shoppers will be paid to recycle drinks containers, ministers announce

Glass, plastic and metal containers could be recycled through a network of ‘reverse vending machines’, which pay for each item returned

Shoppers will be given money for recycling single-use drinks containers, under plans to help cleanse streets and oceans of waste plastic, ministers have announced.

Proposals from Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, would see people either pay a deposit on purchasing an item, which is returned when they recycle, or simply handed cash for every container they take back.

Officials hinted that recycling of glass, plastic and metal containers could even be carried out through a network of “reverse vending machines”, which pay people for each item.

The new scheme is the latest initiative from Mr Gove as he stakes out environmental issues as Conservative political territory, with campaigners now encouraged to push for progress in other areas too.

The Independent is currently calling on ministers to implement a 25p “latte levy” on disposable coffee cups, for example, which are almost impossible to recycle effectively.

Setting out the “deposit return scheme”, Mr Gove said: “We can be in no doubt that plastic is wreaking havoc on our marine environment – killing dolphins, choking turtles and degrading our most precious habitats.

“It is absolutely vital we act now to tackle this threat and curb the millions of plastic bottles a day that go unrecycled.

“We have already banned harmful microbeads and cut plastic bag use, and now we want to take action on plastic bottles to help clean up our oceans.”

UK consumers go through an estimated 13 billion plastic drinks bottles a year, but more than three billion are incinerated, sent to landfill or left to pollute our streets, countryside and marine environment.

We can be in no doubt that plastic is wreaking havoc on our marine environment – killing dolphins, choking turtles and degrading our most precious habitats

Environment Secretary Michael Gove

Officials planning the new scheme, which will be subject to consultation later this year, will explore similar initiatives in Denmark, Sweden and Germany.

The new scheme could see consumers pay an upfront deposit ranging from 8p, the level in Sweden, to 22p, the German level, but officials said the English version may do away with the deposit altogether and simply pay people on the return of containers.

The “reverse vending machines” could be run by businesses which are then responsible for making sure any returned bottles are effectively recycled, with ministers saying they will consult with devolved assemblies to make it UK-wide.

Reports have emerged that the government favours a Norway-style model which would see the consumer pay a deposit of 10p and 25p depending on the size of the container.

Elena Polisano, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said it was “positive” the government’s proposals included plastic and glass bottles and metal.

“If the system is UK-wide, applicable to drinks containers of all sizes and available everywhere they are sold, it will make a huge difference to the plastic problem,” she said.

“The government must also be careful to avoid a voluntary scheme that only applies to some retailers.

“Both the public and businesses are in favour of a strong deposit return scheme, which is a tried and tested way to increase recycling rates.”

The consultation on drinks containers follows recent calls for evidence from the Treasury on what taxes and charges could be introduced to reduce waste from single-use plastics.

Other announcements the government has made include a plan to abolish all plastic waste by 2040, banning plastic microbeads and implementing a 5p plastic bag charge, which led to nine billion fewer bags distributed.

A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 people for waste and recycling firm SUEZ found that 74 per cent of those quizzed would be likely to return their drinks containers if they were charged a 10p deposit.