Deposit Return Schemes: Unintended consequences.

Every DRS should be easy to use, reflect the size of the packaging and encourage recyclability by design

A deposit return scheme for drinks containers with a flat 20p deposit could result in an extra 823 million plastic bottles being produced, inadvertently adding to plastic pollution – one of the key issues the scheme is trying to solve.

In the UK, aluminium can recycling rates have increased from 54% in 2010 to 75% in 2018. Cans are infinitely recyclable, easy to open, store, stack and transport with minimum impact. Any new DRS scheme across Europe, or indeed the world, should adopt the following key principles: