MPs urge prime minister to back all-in deposit return scheme

The government is set to introduce a deposit return scheme covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2023. The scheme will see consumers pay a deposit on drinks containers that can be redeemed when the container is returned.

However, the MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling for all materials to be included – plastic and glass bottles, aluminium cans, cartons, pouches and coffee cups. The motion was backed by Liberal Democrat leadership contender Layla Moran, Conservative MP Scott Benton, and the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas.

Labour MPs joining the calls include Claudia Webbe, Mohammad Yasin, Rosie Cooper, Mick Whitley, and Grahame Morris.

In Wales the motion was signed by Plaid Cymru MPs Ben Lake and Hywel Williams, and independent Jonathan Edwards.

In addition, Northern Ireland ministers Colum Eastwood, Jim Shannon and Claire Hanna joined the calls.

SNP ministers Chris Stephens and Allan Dorans also backed the move.

Campaigners welcomed calls for a comprehensive system – pointing to the fact that such a system has already operated successfully across Scandinavia for decades.

Dr Laura Foster, head of clean seas at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “No matter if it is a coffee cup, glass bottle or PET bottle, when rubbish gets into our environment it kills our planet.

“Naturally some drinks manufacturers want their containers excluded from the scheme. But this is short-sighted in the extreme.

“Only an all-in system can protect our natural world for generations to come. MPs are right to highlight this.”

Surfers Against Sewage chief executive, Hugo Tagholm, added: “In 2017 more than 300,000 people signed our petition demanding a well-designed deposit return scheme to tackle pollution.

“Whitehall has a once-in-a-generation chance to go all out to go all in. The government cannot afford to mess this up.”