A digital deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles will be trialled at households in Conwy county in the spring as part of a trial launched by the Welsh government and WRAP.
Bottles are scanned by both householders and at a MRF, with the funds raised going towards a local school
Householders will be provided with a set of bottles tagged by Polytag, a patent pending technology which allows brands to print markers on each unit of a product so they can be tracked within the waste stream. The householders scan the tags using a free app when placing the bottles in their recycling containers.
The bottles will also be scanned upon collection by Conwy county borough council’s household waste recycling team at a materials recycling facility (MRF).
For each bottle scanned at either end of the DRS process, householders will receive a digital token – with each token worth 20p each.
The tokens will then be donated to raise funds for Ysgol Pen y Bryn, the local primary school.
Rates
Digital DRS schemes allow local authorities, brands and regulators to monitor recycling rates, so they can analyse the habits of households, the Welsh government says.
The four-week trial – the first of its kind in Wales – will involve a number of homes in the area.
Lesley Griffiths, the minister for environment, energy and rural affairs, said: “I am very pleased to note that the trial of the new digital deposit return scheme will take place in the spring, and would like to thank all partners – including Polytag, Conwy county borough council and WRAP – for the work they’ve put in not only to ensure the trial can take place, but also to ensure it can do so safely and in line with Covid-19 guidance.
“Measures such as these will allow a more flexible system for consumers than having to return items”
“Measures such as these will allow a more flexible system for consumers than having to return items such as bottles or containers themselves, and will link in well with existing infrastructure already in place at the household recycling collection systems run by local authorities.”
Polytag
Polytag is based in Deeside, North Wales, and has “already proven the technology’s success” following a trial in partnership with Ecosurety in the village of Greasby on the Wirral, where 91% of tagged packaging was successfully recycled.
Phil Sutton, Polytag founder and chief technology officer, said: “We’re delighted that Polytag’s technology has been recognised by a national government as a solution to improve recycling rates exponentially.
“We are confident that Polytag will integrate seamlessly with Wales’ existing waste collections and that consumers will see the benefits immediately – we can’t wait for the pilot to begin!”
Trials
Similar trials for a digital DRS are also taking parts in other areas of the UK.
In Northern Ireland, Ray Georgeson, director of the consultancy firm Ray Georgeson Resources, is working with Bryson Recycling to explore the possibility of similar trials.
Mr Georgeson said: “I have been retained by Bryson Recycling to advise and assist in the assembly of an informal group of industry interests who have a shared objective of ensuring that the concept and emerging technology behind the idea of a ‘digital DRS’ is fully explored and evaluated, as the various parts of the UK move into the important next phases of consultation and final development of deposit return policy and legislation. This is primarily a research and evaluation exercise which we hope will feed into consultations which are expected early in 2021.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
