News & Updates


January 23rd, 2023

Almost five years after UK Ministers first promised a deposit return system, we’re delighted to see them take the next big step. There will be significant benefits in having deposit return across the whole of the UK, for the public, for the environment, and for business alike. Westminster’s intention to exclude glass from the English […]

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November 12th, 2018

Together with industry organisations and charities from across Europe, we made a joint requests that the European Council support minimum recycled content mandates in beverage bottles. Specifically, we want to see a binding target of at least 35% recycled plastic in beverage bottles by 2025, as part of the European Union’s proposed single-use plastic directive.

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August 30th, 2018

As the Scottish Government call for people’s views on what would make the best deposit return system for Scotland, we took a group of MSPs to Oslo to find out how the Norwegian system works. We were joined by Finlay Carson, Scottish Conservatives; Claudia Beamish, Scottish Labour; Liam McArthur, Scottish Liberal Democrats; Angus MacDonald, Scottish National Party and Mark Ruskell, Scottish Greens. During our time in Oslo, we visited the collection and sorting centre as well as city centre shops, both small and large, to trial returning bottles and cans for ourselves. 

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February 26th, 2018

Norway’s deposit return system has one of the highest collection rates in the world, and there are many parts of it that we’d like to see featured in the Scottish system design. These articles help to explain why.

Watch this BBC video on Norway’s deposit return system.

Read Tracy Sutton’s views on why Norway are doing it right!


February 26th, 2018

A great article from The Times, explaining why it makes sense for Michael Gove to introduce a deposit return system in England.  

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November 21st, 2017

A recent article from the United Nations Environment Programme explains the benefits of deposit return systems. It highlights the fact that deposit-return systems are growing in popularity, and explains the many benefits of deposits, including higher collection rates and reduced litter, as well as the economic savings to municipalities from avoided collection, sorting, and disposal costs. The article also makes the point that deposits can work not only in wealthy countries, but in low-income countries too.


October 23rd, 2017

A new report published this month finds that local authorities across England could save up to £35 million every year if a deposit refund system (DRS) for drinks containers was introduced in England.

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January 27th, 2017

This short video explains how eating seafood may now mean eating plastic!


January 26th, 2017

Sky News have this week launched a campaign that aims to inspire and encourage people to act now on the issue of marine litter. Their Ocean Rescue campaign began with the Plastic Tide documentary, that highlights the problem. They go on to show their support for deposit return systems and highlight celebrities such as Richard Branson and HRH, The Prince of Wales  who support their introduction in the United Kingdom.

This short video gives a great explanation of how deposit return systems work.

The campaign has already drawn widespread interest and highlighted active opposition to the introduction of a deposit return system from Coca-cola.


January 23rd, 2017

This article highlights a failure to meet recycling targets for plastic bottles. Current figures show less than 60% of plastic bottles are being recycled, despite government targets of 75%.

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