73% of Britons want the Labour government to launch a deposit return scheme for all drinks containers including aluminium cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles, new survey shows.
The poll of 2,000 UK adults was commissioned by Alupro and conducted by Yonder between 30 August to 1 September 2024.
65% of those polled also said Whitehall should follow the example of the Welsh Government by setting binding recycling targets for local authorities.
Alupro, an industry-funded, not-for-profit organisation representing the aluminium industry, said the poll showed Britons want an interoperable DRS across the UK that includes all materials no later than 2027.
The previous Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said he would decline a request from the Welsh Government for full exclusion from the Internal Market Act, which would exclude them from collecting glass as part of its DRS.
Mary Creagh, minister with responsibility for circular economy, has said the UK Government plans to launch a DRS for drinks containers before the previous October 2027 deadline but has not confirmed what materials will be in-scope.
They do not want landmark environmental policy such as deposit return schemes to be delayed beyond 2027.
Tom Giddings, Alupro Executive Director, said: “The Great British public could not be clearer. They want Labour to get on and deliver for the environment.
“They do not want landmark environmental policy such as deposit return schemes to be delayed beyond 2027. Britons have waited long enough for Whitehall to do right by the environment.
“I look forward to discussing in Liverpool how Labour can deliver a real circular economy for this and future generations.”
The survey, released ahead of the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, also found over 80% of Britons who expressed an opinion in the poll said Labour should be “bold” in pushing through key environmental policies.
82% of Britons also said they wanted Labour to “right the wrongs” of 14 years of Conservative Government.
