Build-up of plastic waste in our oceans is 'one of the most troubling environmental trends'. Eighty per cent of it is coming from the land as everyday products such as plastic bags, straws and bottles as they travel along rivers to the sea. They end up even on the most remote stretches of oceans, farthest-flung beaches on earth and the deepest parts of the ocean.

More and more people are starting to take notice of the issue of ocean plastic, particularly after the Ellen MacArthur Foundation claimed that by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the sea by weight. In addition, research by Eunomia Research & Consulting last year estimated that around 12.2 million tonnes of plastic enters the marine environment every year, making up around 95 per cent of the waste in the ocean.

It is sad to think that almost all the plastic ever produced is still here somewhere, on the planet in one form or another, and will remain here for centuries to come – possibly thousands of years. Some of that plastic is being swallowed by sea birds, by whales, dolphins, seals and other creatures to the point today where plastic waste is estimated to be in the guts of about half of all marine mammals.

Deposit-Return Schemes(DRS) in the UK

The prospect of deposit-return schemes (DRS) being used in the UK has been bubbling under for a few years. DRS work by having customers pay a small cash deposit of around 10 pence when purchasing a drink in a can or bottle, which is refunded when the packaging is returned for recycling – with the desired result of boosting the recycling quality and rates, while reducing litter.

In last November, Co-Leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas MP joined other voices calling for a British DRS, noting that they are used in 11 other European countries with recycling rates for target materials in excess of 90 per cent. She introduced an early-day motion to Parliament, noting that plastic bottle and cans account for 40 per cent of litter in the UK, with a staggering 38.5 million plastic bottles being used every day.

More than 4m plastic bottles a week could be prevented from littering streets and marine environments in Britain if authorities adopted the kind of deposit-return schemes that operate in at least a dozen other countries.

Recycling rates for plastic bottles in Britain stand at 57%, compared with more than 90% in countries that operate deposit return schemes such as Germany, Norway and Sweden.

In Finland a small deposit – 40 cents for a 1.5 litre plastic bottle – is added to the price and consumers can return the bottles to specialist bottle banks in supermarkets with a barcode reader, which allows them to collect the money back as they drop the bottle.

Similarly, in Norway, supermarkets often install 'Reverse Vending Machines' that scan barcodes and give consumers vouchers against their shopping or make a donation to charity in return for bottles.

Movement towards a DRS is most evolved in Scotland who has recently introduced DRS.

Scotland adopts a deposit for beverages that paves the way for the EU Strategy on Plastics

Recently, Scotland announced to introduce a deposit in all beverage containers sold in Scotland, in an effort to cut down marine and street litter. Consumers would pay a deposit to shops which would be refunded to consumers after the return of the containers.  This will result in an incredible 39 million fewer cans and bottles polluting Scottish communities and coastlines annually. It will also dramatically boost recycling rates, with drinks containers expected to leap from around 50% to approximately 90% in just a couple of years.  This will secure a high-quality source of recycling material for Scottish manufacturers, boosting job numbers in Scotland's circular economy.  A DRS is forecast to save local authorities millions of pounds by reducing the burden of litter clean ups and bin emptying.

The so-called Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) has been implemented and has been successfully working for over a decade in countries like Germany, Denmark and Sweden, who have managed to boost recycling rates for beverage packaging to over 90%.

By implementing this system, Scotland is confirming its ambition in moving towards a Zero Waste society, and prevent marine litter.

Isn't it an appreciable step to move towards a Circular Economy and reduce plastic pollution by securing an effective recycling of bottles, cans and cartons?

Sweden, Belgium and Germany have earlier emerged as leading examples in combating plastic waste, where deposit schemes exist for plastic bottles using reverse-vending machines, which takes a bottle in when it is put into the machine. The rubbish problem reduced by 95 per cent after the introduction of deposit schemes in Germany. Such sort of initiatives can make such a dramatic difference.

European Commission to extend DRS all across Europe

The European Commission is considering various measures as part of its Plastic Strategy, intended to combat plastic pollution in marine environment. Deposit schemes have proven to be the 'single most effective measure to reduce plastic pollution in seas'.

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) which is a stakeholder of the UNEP's 10 Year Programme Framework on "Global Action for Sustainable Consumption and Production", is creating a movement to eliminate waste in European society. ZWE is both a knowledge network and an advocacy group, representing active communities in countries across the EU, empowers communities and change agents from around Europe to redesign their relationship with resources, to adapt their lifestyle, their consumption patterns, and to think circular.

ZWE is aiming to re-design the society so that all superfluous waste is eliminated and everything that is produced can be re-used, repaired, composted or recycled back into the system. Anything that can't be repaired, composted or recycled should be re-designed and replaced or banned from entering the market.

ZWE is calling on the European Commission to take note of the benefits of deposit schemes, and to introduce the legal changes needed to facilitate DRS to extend across the EU.

Deposit return schemes (DRS) operate in at least a dozen countries including Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Australia, with recycling rates for target materials in excess of 90 per cent. In Germany, where DRS machines are located in places such as supermarkets, 99% of plastic bottles are recycled. Recycling rates in the UK are currently at less than 50%. But a relatively small economic incentive has had a major impact in England – the 5p charge on plastic bags led to an 85% drop in the first six months alone.

Sky's Ocean Rescue Campaign

Leading British broadcaster 'Sky' has recently weighed in on the plastic waste problem by launching an environmental campaign that raises awareness about the consequences of ocean pollution and seeks to alter consumer behaviour in order to cut down on plastic waste. Sky has launched a new 'Ocean Rescue' campaign, to raise awareness about the consequences of marine pollution.

Sky has made a start itself by removing all plastic water bottles, plastic cups, straws, and using cutlery made from corn-starch, and is asking the public to pledge to similarly reduce their plastic consumption.

The campaign began with the screening of the documentary A Plastic Tide  on Sky Atlantic, which outlines consumer responsibility and the risks of plastics to human life and ecosystems. The film is being reshown on the free-to-air channels and is available to watch on YouTube.

The health of our oceans is in a dire state and we ignore it at our peril, so broadcaster like Sky is  asking all its customers around Europe to help bring ocean health to the fore. Sky has committed to put the full weight of Sky behind the campaign, and together make a meaningful difference.

PRINCE CHARLES BACKS BOTTLE DEPOSIT SCHEMES TO COMBAT OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION

Even the Prince of Wales has voiced his support for bottle deposit schemes that help combat plastic waste by backing Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign. Prince Charles, who has for decades supported environmental causes, backed deposit-return schemes as a way to mitigate plastic litter entering waterways.

Prince Charles has signed up as a supporter of Sky's campaign, and two of the Prince's charities, the International Sustainability Unit and Business in the Community, held meetings in London with a number of high-profile businesses to look at how companies can help reduce the amount of plastic in the supply chain.

Make it 'socially unacceptable to litter'

Europe is further looking at innovative approaches to engage communities and change behaviour. There are many good local campaigns and initiatives in many of the European countries but governments are looking at long-term national programme that makes it socially unacceptable to litter anything. They are studying how they can change the behaviour of litterers, so everyone is proud of their environment and everyone puts all rubbish in a bin or takes it home.

Sources:

https://www.zerowasteeurope.eu/2017/09/scotland-deposit-beverages/

http://resource.co/article/prince-charles-backs-bottle-deposit-schemes-combat-ocean-plastic-pollution-11627

http://resource.co/article/study-backs-behaviour-change-campaigns-combat-litter-scotland-11586

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/29/could-a-money-back-scheme-clean-up-the-uks-plastic-bottle-plague

https://www.sas.org.uk/news/campaign-victory-scotland-introduces-bottle-deposits/