Campaigners insist money-back recycling scheme is a glass act public support
Four out of five people in Scotland think that glass should be included in a national money-back recycling system, a survey suggests.
Ministers at Holyrood are shortly expected to make a decision on a deposit return scheme, which campaigners hope will set a high standard for the rest of the UK to follow.
Sections of UK industry have been lobbying for a limited scheme which would not include all materials and container sizes, with some resisting the inclusion of glass bottles.
But research carried out by YouGov for the Marine Conservation Society shows that there’s even more support in Scotland for glass containers to be included in the scheme (85 per cent), than plastic bottles (83 per cent).
MCS head of conservation Scotland, Calum Duncan, said: “It’s clear that people in Scotland back the idea of a money-back recycling system and we want the Scottish Government to lead the UK in designing one that is world-class.
“What is also evident from our polling is that most voters want glass, plastic, aluminium cans and other drinks cartons to be included, with glass at the very top of their list. Ministers must listen to consumers instead of those in industry with vested interests.”
While the Scottish Government has already held a public consultation and is expected to announce the design of its scheme shortly, there’s a separate consultation, which ends on May 13, being run by Defra which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The survey showed that there’s overwhelming support for a system in Scotland that includes a wide range of drink container types. When asked what they thought should be included, 85 per cent in Scotland said glass bottles, with 83 per cent backing plastic bottles, followed by aluminium cans (74 per cent), and drinks cartons made of more than one material type (61 per cent).
After plastic pieces, glass (an average of 78 items per 100m) was number 2 on the list of most picked up items of litter found by volunteers on the MCS-organised Great British Beach Clean in Scotland last year.
Jenni Hume, campaign manager of Have You Got The Bottle? said: “It’s no surprise that people across Scotland are so determined to see glass bottles included in our deposit return system. Broken glass on our streets is a particular risk for young people and for pets and wild animals, and the 'glass cheque' is the best way to keep that litter to a minimum.
“Deposit return is also about making producers responsible for the materials they use. If glass - the most carbon-intensive material there is - is exempted, there would be a perverse incentive for businesses to switch to glass. Ministers must choose: will they back public demands for glass to be included, and will they support jobs in Scotland’s glass recycling sector?”
The Marine Conservation Society has led calls for compatible Deposit Return Schemes to be introduced across the UK. Last week, MCS launched its Bottles for Change campaign by calling on retailers to support a comprehensive “all-in” scheme and urging Defra to resist industry lobbying.
MCS is urging people to take part by visiting www.bottlesforchange.uk and responding to Defra’s consultation before May 13. Supporters in Scotland can write to their MSPs at: www.act.foe.scot/deposit-return-system
* Do YOU support a money-back recycling scheme? Share your views by emailing newsdesk@spp-group.com
