Deposit Return scheme to solve our drink bottle problems?

One of River Worth Friends main activities is picking up plastic bottles and cans from in and along the river, over half of the rubbish we pick up is drinks containers. We don’t do this because we are obsessed with tidiness! Plastic is a scourge in our environment remaining for hundreds of years, plastic in our rivers will be distributed along the banks and eventually out to sea, having a lasting effect on marine life. The plastic bottle dropped in Keighley could end up in the stomach of a dolphin in the North Sea.
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​So it was with a mixture of pleasure and disappointment that we heard the governments recent announcement about the proposed deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and cans. We’re pleased to hear that it will be up and running in October 2027 but disappointed that it has taken so long for Britain to emulate many of our more environmentally conscientious European neighbours. The scheme was first mooted by Michael Gove, then Environment Secretary, in 2018. ​​Nine years to introduce a relatively simple but environment changing measure, our politicians need to get their finger out!

How will the scheme work? Well actually we don’t quite know, that’s still got to be worked out but basically when you buy drinks in a plastic or metal container an additional deposit (possibly 20p) will be paid which will be returned when the empty container is returned. This is limited to 150ml to 3 litre bottles or cans. Retailers will have to provide a return facility, either automated or manual, with certain exceptions.

In future someone could make a bit of money returning these bottles, instead of spreading them along the path.

​​The government plans to set up the Deposit Management Organisation(DMO) in April this year, they will fill in the details on how the scheme works and ensure manufacturers and retailers conform.

With British consumers buying over 30 billion single use drinks containers a year, this scheme is long overdue. Currently there are over 50 countries world wide running DRS schemes, European countries running schemes report an over 90% return rate, with Germany leading with 98%. RWF find that well over 50% of the litter we collect along the river is drinks containers. If the people of Keighley prove to be as sensible as the Germans then it will have a fantastic impact on our work. If not, well perhaps it will be a big boost for our funds!

Our first collection in 2025, at Postman's Walk. We reckon over 50% of this was drinks containers.

This scheme will not only have a huge environmental impact it will also contribute to the circular economy, with the collected bottles and cans being recycled. The government claims it will create 21,000 new jobs and £10 billion of investment in the recycling industry over the next ten years. We feel that it’s a pity that the DRS in England does not include glass bottles as it does in Scotland and Wales, if it did it would reinforce the circular economy even further and also get them off the river bank.
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Let’s hope that the DRS and the disposable Vapes ban coming into force in June will  improve the environment in Keighley and also reduce the amount of plastic in the river.
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