A cross-party group of MPs, led by Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency and Energy, has called on government to “raise its ambitions” around its flagship deposit return scheme (DRS) recycling policy.
In a letter to Environment Secretary George Eustice MP, made public today (13 July), 20 Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have urged the UK Government to “widen the scope” of materials included its proposals for a DRS.
The group particularly highlights beverage cartons, the inclusion of which the MPs say, “will improve consumer engagement, by aligning the Scheme more closely with current household recycling”.
The letter adds that including “as many materials as possible” will help to increase recycling rates and better secure access to high quality recycled material for the packaging industry.
The MPs write, “We therefore urge the Government to raise its ambitions and widen the scope of existing proposals for the DRS to include cartons. A DRS with cartons is better for the environment, better for consumers and better for recycling.”
The most straightforward, user-friendly DRS is one that includes a wide range of materials as possible, including cartons
Under the Government’s current proposals, the DRS will include PET plastic and metal cans.
Dragan Rajkovic, Sustainability Director for North Europe at packaging company Tetra Pak, commented: “I am delighted to see this cross-party group of MPs take such a firm stance on the need to include more materials, particularly beverage cartons, in the UK’s DRS.
“Tetra Pak has been calling on Defra to raise its ambitions and widen the scheme since it published its first proposals three years ago – doing so now would demonstrate a drive to build a true circular economy and achieve net-zero.”
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency and Energy, Wera Hobhouse MP, said: “Current Government proposals for a UK DRS lack ambition – this policy has the potential to support the UK’s efforts to build a circular economy, reduce plastic waste and cut emissions, and yet the Government has proposed as limited a scheme as it would be possible to imagine.
“What is more, by reducing the scope of the DRS to such a limited number of materials, it risks confusing the British public who are used to recycling materials such as beverage cartons as part of their kerbside collections.
“The most straightforward, user-friendly DRS is one that includes a wide range of materials as possible, including cartons.”
Full letter:
Dear George,
Scope and ambition of the UK’s proposed Deposit Return Scheme – the inclusion of cartons.
We, as a group of cross-party MPs, are writing to express our strong support for the creation of a UK Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
The DRS presents the UK with the opportunity to foster an improved recycling culture, take a step towards realising the country’s net zero targets, and achieve a truly circular economy. But to ensure the DRS achieves these goals, we urge you to introduce the most ambitious scheme possible, primarily by including as many materials as possible, including cartons.
The inclusion of additional materials such as cartons will improve consumer engagement, by aligning the scheme more closely with current household recycling, increase recycling rates and better secure access to high quality recycled material for industry.
In the case of cartons, the material is already part of DRS in Australia and Canada, and trials in Serbia and Sweden have proven that cartons work well in reverse vending machines. There is no issue with onward processing of cartons collected in the DRS, with a dedicated carton recycling plant near Halifax.
We therefore urge the Government to raise its ambitions and widen the scope of existing proposals for the DRS to include cartons. A DRS with cartons is better for the environment, better for consumers and better for recycling.
We would be grateful if you could outline your intentions to this group and reassure us that you will be introducing an ambition scheme with wider scope of materials than currently proposed, including cartons.
Yours sincerely,
Wera Hobhouse MP
Ian Byrne MP
Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP
Wendy Chamberlain MP
Daisy Cooper MP
Rt Hon Sir Ed Davey MP
Tim Farron MP
Sarah Green MP
Christine Jardine MP
Kim Johnson MP
Layla Moran MP
Helen Morgan MP
Grahame Morris MP
Dr Matthew Offord MP
Sarah Olney MP
Jamie Stone MP
Claudia Webbe MP
Mick Whitley MP
Munira Wilson MP
Mohammad Yasin MP
