A new poll has revealed 73% of Britons want the new UK Government to press ahead with a deposit return scheme for all drinks containers including aluminium cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles.
The poll, commissioned by Alupro, involved 2,000 UK adults and was conducted by Yonder. Alupro represents the UK’s aluminium packaging industry.
Some 65% of respondents said Whitehall should follow the example of the Welsh Government by setting binding recycling targets for local authorities.
Campaigners fear key environmental pledges will be delayed as the Labour government prioritises fixing the public finances. Deposit return schemes in all four nations of the UK have been subjected to multiple delays, and wrangling over the scope of materials included.
Currently, glass is set to be excluded from schemes in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland and included in Wales.
The latest poll revealed Britons want an inter-operable scheme that includes all materials across the UK ‘no later than 2027’.
The poll has been published ahead of Labour Party Conference 2024 in Liverpool.
Tom Giddings, Alupro executive director, said, “The Great British public could not be clearer. They want Labour to get on and deliver for the environment. They do not want landmark environmental policy such as deposit return schemes to be delayed beyond 2027. Britons have waited long enough for Whitehall to do right by the environment. I look forward to discussing in Liverpool how Labour can deliver a real circular economy for this and future generations.”
Allison Ogden-Newton CEO, Keep Britain Tidy, added, “We have long campaigned for a deposit return scheme including all materials. We have heard countless stories of people and pets being endangered by littered glass, as well as our volunteers who struggle with removing broken glass from the environment as it cuts through plastic waste bags.”
