Recycling could be increased and littering reduced if bottles carried a 10p payment for returning them, according to a new government study. More>>

Around 20 years ago, glass bottle deposits were common in the UK, but were phased out with the cheap availability of cans and plastic bottles, which were discarded after use. More>>

A return to a bottle deposit system gained “overwhelming public support” in a poll commissioned by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

According to the Ipsos Mori poll, 82% said they would support a scheme where a five pence deposit was included in the price of a drink container. About 80% also said they would support a 10 pence deposit scheme. Even more people (90%) said they thought the deposit would help reduce street litter, which costs about £500m to clean up each year.

These results have come as a Government commissioned Review of Packaging Deposit Systems for the UK, has been published by Environmental Resources Management.

CPRE President Bill Bryson said: “We asked Government to consider a review of bottle deposit systems earlier this year, and we know Ministers will be looking at the results as part of their strategic review on packaging. This public poll proves that such a scheme would have huge support, so we say that now is the time for the Government to take action.

Bryson cited examples where schemes have offered good return rates:

* New York State’s bottle bill has rates of 65-80%;
* South Australia has plastic bottle rates of 74% and can rates of 86-92%;
* Denmark has a beverage container rate of 87%
* Sweden has a beverage container rate 82%

A deposit system could have particular advantages at Christmas. The UK uses an extra 750 million bottles and glass containers and 500 million drinks cans during the festive period. With a 10 pence deposit this could equal £125 million given back to the consumer at Christmas alone. More >>

Bottle deposits used to be common in the UK 20 years ago but were phased out when plastic bottles and cans became cheap to make and discard.
However, as the UK runs out of landfill it could come back into fashion.More >>

A feasibility study by the Government found that returning drinks containers in exchange for 10p would increase recycling and reduce litter.
But the system would make drinks more expensive for people unable to return to the shop to claim back their deposit. It would also require massive investment in infrastructure and could take funds away from kerbside recycling. More >>

The report by consultants Environmental Resources Management Limited concluded that if the system is introduced it will have to be designed carefully in order to stop drinks manufacturers from designing containers that will be cheaper because they do not have to be part of a scheme.
The Government, which has favoured the idea in the past, is now looking at the report. More >>

Ben Stafford, Head of Campaigns at CPRE, said the study showed the scheme could go ahead.
"The research commissioned for Defra shows that a deposit scheme could have real advantages, and we don't even need to look outside the UK for proof. In Scotland, Irn Bru is still available in refundable glass bottles, and an impressive 70 per cent of these are returned. Each glass bottle returned is cleaned, refilled and sold around five times during its full life." More >>

Mr Stafford said the system could also ease the current situation where councils are unable to sell cans and plastic botttles on for recycling because of the economic downturn. Especially during the festive season people use an extra 750 million glass containers and 500 million cans.
He added: "A deposit of 10 pence a bottle could see UK householders recovering £125 million at Christmas time alone. With the UK only recycling 35 per cent of the 13 billion plastic bottles we use each year, we feel sure a deposit scheme will have a real impact, help to keep the streets cleaner and reduce the annual £500m litter clean-up bill that we all have to pay." More >>

Reverse deposit systems for packaging have been placed under the spotlight again after a government feasibility study found that a 10p returnable deposit would increase material collection.More >>

Defra commissioned Environmental Resources Management to compile the report, following a renewed interest in deposit schemes and reverse vending as a collection method for beverage containers.More >>

Beverage deposit systems require consumers to pay an additional fee to the retailer, which is then reimbursed when the consumer returns the empty packaging.

The report found that deposit systems would increase total tonnage of materials collected, but a significant amount of deposited packaging would be "cannibalised" from existing collection schemes.

However, it was agreed that a deposit scheme might aid in the collection of "hard to reach materials" found in "on-the-go" food and drink packaging.

The report closely follows the publication of a poll by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), which revealed that four in five people polled would support a 10p deposit scheme.More >>

CPRE president Bill Bryson said the Ipsos Mori poll proves that a scheme would be well supported and so "now is the time for the government to take action".

Ben Stafford, head of campaigns at the CPRE highlighted the case of Irn Bru in Scotland, which is still sold in refundable glass bottles, 70% of which are returned.

Every glass bottle that is returned is cleaned, refilled and sold around five times during its life.

Going back to the days when children used to get a few pence for taking empty lemonade bottles back to the shops, commuters travelling on a popular bus route in
 
Aberdeenshire will be the first in the country to be offered travel discount vouchers every item they recycle.

But to amass enough points to travel free on a return journey on the route they will have to recycle 700 items.

Scotland's first "reverse vending recycling" initiative for discounted bus travel was officially launched yesterday by Stagecoach and Aberdeenshire Council at the Ellon Park and Ride site facility, used by more than 120,000 commuters a year. It is hoped the move will reduce landfill and encourage more people to take greener forms of public transport.

If successful, the scheme could be rolled out to bus stations across Scotland by the bus company.

Under the pioneering scheme, bus passengers will be able to put their used cans and bottles in a special recycling vending machine, which will award them with tickets for green travel points for every item they recycle.

For every 50 green points they accumulate they will receive a 20p bus travel voucher, while 100 points will earn a 50p travel discount. A return fare on the route between Ellon and Aberdeen is currently priced at £3.50 – equivalent to 700 recycled items.

Aberdeenshire Council has launched a new scheme which aims to offer reduced travel fares on buses for people who recycle their used drink cans.

The "reverse vending machine" will dispense money-off vouchers worth 10p for every 50 drinks cans it receives.

This new system will operate from the Ellon Park and Ride site to the north of Aberdeen. More >>

Councillor Peter Argyle, Infrastructure Services Committee Chairman, Aberdeenshire Council, said: “We are delighted to be part of this partnership with Stagecoach to launch Scotland’s first reverse vending machine. This complements the existing range of recycling services that the Council offers and will allow us to review how this kind of machine could be used in other locations.”

Formartine Area Committee Chairman, Councillor John Loveday, added: “This initiative is a great incentive for Ellon Park and Ride users. Not only are they helping reduce carbon emissions by using public transport, they will now also be able to boost their green efforts by recycling on site.”

The hi-tech reVend FR 600 machine, which has a capacity to hold over 2,000 items at a time, is supplied by the Reverse Vending Corporation, the leading UK distributor and operator of advanced reverse vending recycling technology.

It uses advanced barcode technology to identify, sort, collect and recycle steel and aluminium drinks cans, as well as plastic drinks bottles. In return, the machine automatically prints a ticket with a point for every item recycled.

Steve Stothard, Senior VP and Chief Technology Officer with the Reverse Vending Corporation, said: “We are delighted with the pioneering and foresighted decision by Stagecoach, in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, to help the environment by installing the first reverse vending recycling machine in Scotland.

“Reverse vending recycling is proven technology. It has been used fore over three decades in continental Europe where the mandatory deposits on beverage containers are returned to the consumer for recycling their used cans and bottles.”

The recycled material will be collected and sorted by local group Ellon Can-do, which is part of Aberdeenshire Council's Social Work service and runs projects and a day centre for adults with learning difficulties.  Ellon Can-do already collects plastic bottles on behalf of the Council from public recycling points in the Ellon area and operates from an industrial unit close to the park and ride site.

Earlier this year, Stagecoach launched an innovative eco-partnership with Perth and Kinross Real Nappy Network (PKRNN) to offer a free a week’s free bus travel to parents signing up to use real nappies for their babies.

Stagecoach Group is continuing a major drive to make its own business more sustainable and attract more people to travel by bus, coach, train and tram. The company’s wide-ranging strategy includes investment in renewable fuels and cleaner engines, state-of-the-art energy efficient facilities, water and waste recycling initiatives and offering businesses green travel incentives for their employees.

Stagecoach has launched Scotland’s first reverse vending recycling initiative - offering discounted bus travel in return for used drinks cans and plastic bottles, together with Aberdeenshire Council, today. More >>

Students at a UK agricultural college are being paid to recycle plastic bottles and cans. More>>

Sparsholt College, Winchester, is the first British organisation to install a reverse vending machine.

The machine issues a voucher worth £0.05 for each item recycled. Vouchers can be used towards snacks and other goodies in the college’s shop, restaurant and bar.

In its first week of operation, the machine collected 1,000 cans and 2,000 plastic bottles.

Reverse vending machines are popular in Europe.

In some countries - such as Sweden - consumers are charged a premium for items sold in cans or plastic bottles.

The premium is returned only when the packaging is placed into a reverse vending machine.

According to the Reverse Vending Corporation, the machines can increase the recycling rate to 65%. More>>

Students attending an agricultural college are receiving encouragement to recycle their cans and plastic bottles with a machine that gives them cash vouchers for their containers. More>>

Hampshire’s Sparsholt College has become the first UK organization to have a reverse vending machine installed. The machine issues a five pence voucher for each suitable container recycled.

The vouchers are valid for purchasing items from any college shop or for use at its bars and restaurants.

The Reverse Vending Corporation, which installed the machine last month, reported that it became immediately popular, with students readily queuing to recycle drinks containers.

Steve Stothard, the senior vice president and chief technology officer of the company, noted that in its first week the machine collected nearly 1,000 cans and 2,000 plastic bottles.

The manager of the project at the college, Debbie Carless, was responsible for suggesting the installation of the machine. She said: “By investing in this unique machine, Sparsholt College is taking recycling seriously. It’s a great idea and it works.”

Steve Davies, the college’s vice principal, commented: “We’re thrilled to be the first in the UK to advocate reverse vending recycling. It’s a great initiative which has already proved popular with students and demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability.” More>>

For each acceptable item recycled, the machine issues a voucher to the value of 5p which can then be redeemed at any College restaurant, bar or shop.

The University of Sheffield has revamped its recycling initiatives this week by installing an inventive new machine.
The Reverse Vending Machine, which is the first of its kind in Yorkshire, will offer incentives to staff and students to encourage them to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans.

Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) are able to sort, collect and process used drinks containers for recycling. Each time a container is recycled, the machine will produce token receipts for 5% off a hot drink at eatwithUS outlets across the University campus. Any unacceptable objects or unsuitable materials are identified and automatically rejected

Pat McGrath, Director of Accommodation and Campus Services at the University, said:

Reverse Vending systems are proving equally popular in universities and colleges. In November 2007, Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) became the first university in the UK to install a reverse vending machine on campus.
RUSU president Sally Pearman said: "If I take a can and put it in the machine it will clean it and compress it. In return, the machine will issue me with a ticket giving discounts and I will make money back. There are thousands of these machines in Europe, but we're the first university in Britain to get one." More >>

Veteran green campaigner Prof David Bellamy believes technology like this is the way ahead to solve some of our environmental ills.