Deposit Return Scheme For Plastic Bottles in England Won't Likely Start Until 2024

The UK government is expected to announce more information about the plastic bottle deposit return scheme (DRS) in England five years after it was introduced to the public by environment secretary Michael Gove.

While some are excited about this program, some people think that it's flawed, let alone the lack of careful planning to include glass in the scheme.

Deposit Return Scheme For Plastic Bottles

According to a report by The Guardian on Thursday, Jan. 19, the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a dedicated environmental charity that aims to conserve marine wildlife and the environment, says that the government has failed to include the glass in the DRS.

The SAS organization highlights a need to address plastic pollution as part of the program. It adds that this crucial part of the scheme should have been discussed in the delayed announcement. Thus, it's a "missed opportunity" for everyone.

"Whilst we should celebrate action being taken against the scourge of plastic pollution, this much-delayed announcement on DRS appears a huge missed opportunity.

Despite its impending comeback, the DRS won't likely take place sometime this year. The UK government anticipates it to roll out in 2024.

According to SAS, the government should be aware that the delay of the project might result in the accumulation of about 16 billion plastic containers in the oceans and rivers.

It is expected that the announcement will be made on Friday, Jan. 20, according to the UK's Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.

How Did DRS Start?

As mentioned a while ago, Gove introduced DRS in 2018 as an initiative to encourage people not to throw their plastic bottles and cans into the land and sea.

To achieve this ambitious program, Gove acknowledged that the deposit return scheme should be implemented as soon as possible to lessen the number of unrecycled plastic bottles every day.

Two years later, the government released a manifesto promise to include glass in the DRS. The proposal was well-received by the majority.

Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme

The Guardian has mentioned in the same report that Scotland will be implementing the same program this year. The deposit return scheme could likely kick off sometime in August 2023.

The DRS will follow the rule where a person will pay a 20p deposit whenever they purchase a beverage inside a single-use PET bottle. The same goes for drinks that come in glass, steel, or aluminum.

Once they return the container to the machines, they are guaranteed a money-back. Aside from that, they will receive a considerable amount of return points as an additional reward.

Just a few weeks ago, the business leaders expressed their concerns regarding the DRS. According to Yahoo, the DRS might lead to an increase in taxes in the region.