Thank you for contacting me about a Bottle Deposit System.
I am pleased the Government is, as you mention, developing a National Litter Strategy. To help this, a Litter Strategy Advisory Group has been set up, which includes representatives from local government, campaign groups and independent experts, as well as the packaging and fast-food industries.
This strategy will complement existing work, including actions to address litter in the marine environment. It will promote concerted, co-ordinated and effective actions to reduce litter and littering on land, which in turn should lead to a reduction in the amount of litter reaching the marine environment.
The UK's Marine Strategy is also very important. This sets out the actions being taken to improve the marine environment, including to tackle marine litter. In addition, given the trans-boundary nature of marine litter, I am glad that the Government is working closely with other countries on the issue.
Regarding the bottle deposit scheme you suggest, Defra has previously undertaken a full economic assessment of the costs and benefits of introducing such a scheme in the UK. Though this may increase recycling rates for the materials covered and reduce litter, the estimated costs of running such a scheme are very high; they are much higher than alternative measures that could achieve the same aims.
Taking that into account, it was decided not to take forward this option for the time being and instead to concentrate on other ways to increase recycling and address litter.
You may also be interested to know that the recently introduced 5p charge on single use carrier bags has brought about an 80 per cent reduction in the use of plastic bags, which will also help to address the issue of litter in the marine environment.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
