The head of sustainability at Coca-Cola European Partners has acknowledged the need for reform on plastic recycling – but warned the government that any deposit return scheme (DRS) would need to be a part of wider measures introduced.
Nick Brown, who was speaking at the Keep Britain Tidy Conference in Brighton earlier this morning (8 February), explained that while he “acknowledged” the pressures on local authority budgets, reform is needed in plastic recycling.
“We support a deposit return scheme in the UK, but there are a number of measures needed to ensure it works efficiently,” he explained. Mr Brown added: “Any introduction would be a massive change for the public, retailers, local authorities and those in the industry so it needs to be done correctly”.
A Tomra deposit return machine in a Lidl store in Berlin, Germany gives participants an option to donate or receive a money off voucher to use in-store
Mr Brown referenced the packaging strategy his company released in the summer, which promised the recovery of all of its plastic packaging by 2030, and 50% by 2020, as proof that Coca-Cola is doing its bit.
In order for a return scheme to work, according to Mr Brown, it must not be run for profit by the private sector, and assured local authority members in attendance that it could be profitable for them. This echoed earlier calls from Dominic Hogg, chairman of Eunomia, who stated that despite a drop in recycling volume a DRS could bring, it can be profitable for local authorities.
As well as not being run for profit, Mr Brown called on the government to ensure that adequate anti-fraud measures are introduced. Various calculations on the premise of a 10p fee added on to plastic bottles and cans covered by a DRS scheme indicate that over £2billion could be created. Mr Brown said: “We firstly need to make it easier for people to do the right thing. It can’t be difficult to redeem a bottle. However, as significant amounts are included we need measures to protect against fraud. This wouldn’t be necessarily be individuals doing this, but more organised abuse of the system. We need to ensure that the system can’t be abused. Also, those who take part in a scheme need to be paid to provide such services. The rest of the costs should be covered by producers.”
Norway
Norway is often seen as a world leader when it comes to DRS, and the latest statistics show it has a 96% recycling rate of plastic bottles since its introduction in 1999. The UK has less than 60%.
In Norway, a deposit of 1 Krone (approximately 10p) for small plastic bottles and 2.5 Krone for larger bottles is paid by the consumer when purchasing a re-usable plastic bottle. This is then taken to a vending machine where it is refunded. Machines can be found at larger retailers where ‘tickets’ are issues which can be cashed in at the till for either credits or cash. Smaller retailers can arrange a manual collection.
Therese Coffey, who was supposed to attend the event but instead delivered a video as she couldn’t make it, visited a Norwegian plant late last year to see how the scheme works, describing it as an “excellent opportunity” (see letsrecycle.com story).
Suez
Stuart Hayward-Higham, technical development director of Suez, explained that while the waste management company backs DRS, it must be part of a wider system as alone it will fail.
He explained that on average, waste management companies collect household waste at a cost of £5 per household per week, which he described as being “very efficient”.
Mr Hayward-Higham stated that any introduction of a similar system should complement this, not take away. Also, he questioned why some people would want a DRS in the UK. He asked: “Do we want a DRS system to supplement people whose incomes are low? Or is it the privilege of having another system and currency? Or is it to really drive consumer behaviour change? I think it should simply be part of a system, which props up all the other bits and bobs. It can’t do all the heavy lifting alone and shouldn’t be looked at that way.”
Trafford Council
Tara Dumas, head of environmental services at Trafford Council, echoed the views of Mr Hayward-Higham and Mr Brown, but made further calls herself.
She explained how she used to be a “sceptic” of a DRS in the UK, but is now a “convert” after realising the benefits it can have.
One issue raised with a potential deposit return scheme is the impact this could have on the costs of certain materials. Ms Dumas stated that a reduction in volume could lead to increased MRF costs, which could be offset by government funds.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
