Public opinion on deposit return schemes (DRS) in the UK is “overwhelmingly positive” according to a coalition of environmental organisations that is calling on political parties to state their plans for tackling the waste crisis in their manifestos for the 2024 General Election manifesto.
A DRS is set to be introduced across the UK in 2027 and will see a small deposit placed on drinks bottles and cans to incentivise their return for recycling.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataAccording to research by the nonprofit Reloop, 69% of the public supports the implementation of a DRS and looks to the government to act on waste. There is 77% support among Conservative voters, 69% support from Labour voters and 71% among Liberal Democrat voters.
Polling suggests that 89% of the public believes that the national government has at least a fair amount of responsibility for recycling.
Among Labour voters, the single greatest motivation for supporting a DRS is the creation of a monetary incentive to drive recycling (50%). For Liberal Democrat and Conservative voters, the greatest motivation is the benefit of waste reduction through minimising single-use container waste.
Countries already operating a DRS, such as Germany, Norway and Finland, have plastic bottle recycling rates of 90% and have seen reductions of over 60% in the littering of bottles. Bottle recycling rates in the UK currently sit at around 70%.
The UK’s devolved nations, in particular Wales, are driving ahead with the policy, boosting environmental ambition through the inclusion of glass bottles.
Reloop UK and Ireland director Jenni Hume commented: “A future government can secure the greatest environmental benefits and best tackle the scourge of litter by committing to a scheme that includes glass, metal and plastic containers across the UK.”
