Would you recycle more if you were paid 10p per bottle?
The Scottish Government is currently considering a new law that will mean a cash deposit is returned when you take a plastic bottle back to a shop.
Many readers will remember when the glass Irn Bru bottle was a source of extra pocket money from tuppence to 20p when bottles were returned to shops and get money back.
Back in the 1960/70s and 80s small scale competitions between children would mean gathering bottles became a full time summer job, especially around building sites and within public bins.
The public is now being asked to shape a deposit return scheme for drinks containers as a way of reducing plastic pollution.
People would pay a small deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use container and get that money back when it is returned empty.
But will it work?
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A consultation on a Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland asks for views on questions including:
- How much the deposit should be
- where people could return items
- what sort of materials and products should be included
Around 2.5 billion single-use drinks containers are sold in Scotland every year.
Some countries with deposit return schemes are achieving up to 95% recycling rates for drinks containers compared to 50% in Scotland.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “Publishing these options for a deposit return scheme is a significant step forward in our work to tackle plastic pollution and is another demonstration of our leadership on developing a circular economy. The consultation sets out that deposit return is not only an effective way of increasing recycling rates and preventing drinks containers from ending up as litter, but it is also an economic opportunity.
“A deposit return scheme will provide a new secure source of high quality material which will create opportunities to develop our recycling infrastructure in Scotland and create jobs. This will also improve the availability of recycled material for use in the production of bottles and cans in future.
“I would encourage everyone with an interest to provide their views on how this scheme can meet Scotland’s needs and help us tackle our throwaway culture.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Scotland’s planned deposit return scheme is a landmark in the nation’s circular economy journey, with the potential to drive inward investment and create jobs in Scotland at the same time as improving recycling and reducing litter.”