How can a DRS (Deposit Return Scheme) help improve UK recycling rates?
At Enava, we’re always keen to explore how recycling rates can be improved.
We are an environmentally conscious company with a mission to improve the ease of recycling for businesses and individuals.
The recent news about the closure of the proposed DRS in Scotland has led us to question how much of an impact it could have across the UK if it did come into play nationwide.
A deposit return scheme (DRS) has the potential to significantly improve recycling rates in the UK. By incentivising consumers to return their used drinks containers, a DRS can help to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or polluting our environment.
According to a report by the UK Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, a well-designed DRS for drinks containers could increase recycling rates to as high as 95%1.
This would be a significant improvement from the current recycling rate of around 70% for drinks containers in the UK2.
Did you know, DRS’s have already been implemented successfully in other countries, such as Norway and Germany?
Norway’s DRS, which has been in place for over 20 years, has a recycling rate of 97% for plastic bottles3.
In addition to improving recycling rates, a DRS can also help to reduce litter and improve the quality of recycled materials. By ensuring that drinks containers are returned to a specific location, a DRS can help to reduce the amount of litter that is generated.
Furthermore, by separating drinks containers from other recyclables, a DRS can help to improve the quality of recycled materials4.
In conclusion, a deposit return scheme has the potential to significantly improve recycling rates in the UK.
By incentivising consumers to return their used drinks containers, a DRS could help to reduce waste, improve the quality of recycled materials, and reduce litter across the UK.
We think it’s a no brainer for the future of waste and we’re intrigued by what might happen next in Wales and throughout the UK.
Sources:
- UK Parliament, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. (2018). Plastic bottles: Turning back the plastic tide. Retrieved from https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvfru/339/339.pdf ↩
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. (2020). Packaging waste statistics and summary information 2020. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/packaging-waste-statistics-and-summary-information-2020 ↩
- European Commission. (2019). Deposit return schemes for single-use beverage containers. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/packaging/deposit_return.htm ↩
- Zero Waste Scotland. (2017). Deposit return systems: A review of evidence. Retrieved from https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/sites/default/files/Deposit%20return%20systems%20-%20a%20review%20of%20evidence.pdf ↩