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UK Government Considering Paying People To Recycle

UK Government Considering Paying People To Recycle

People could get up to 6p per plastic bottle

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

The UK government is considering paying people for recycling plastic bottles in an attempt to get more people doing it

Michael Gove, the environment secretary, announced that he currently consulting on how a 'reward and return' scheme for plastic bottles could work in the UK.

Plastic pollution is a big problem. Credit: PA

Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference, he said: "We are looking to go further to reduce plastic waste by working with industry to see how we could introduce a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles.

"Our oceans are our planet's greatest natural resource and this government is determined to ensure we restore them to health for the next generation."

The plans have the backing of Greenpeace.

Greenpeace Oceans campaigner Elena Polisano, told the Daily Mail: "We urgently need solutions, and we think a bottle return scheme like those being looked at by Michael Gove, and by the Scottish and Welsh devolved governments, is probably the best way to raise collection rates and turn that stream into a loop."

The proposed plans would see Brits getting up for 6p back for every bottle they returned to shops.

The deposit scheme would work by adding a small surcharge on to the price of drinks sold in plastic bottles which would be returned to the customer when the bottle was brought back.

Denmark and Australia already run similar schemes and have seen an increase in the number of cans and bottles that are being recycled.

People could get up to 6p for every bottle they bring back. Credit: PA

Currently, only 57 percent of plastic bottles sold in the UK were recycled, according to the BBC.

Eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into the ocean every year, the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of plastic every minute.

Gove added that the scheme would follow on from the good work that the plastic bag 'tax' and the ban on microbeads has started.

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Sources: BBC; Mail Online

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: plastic pollution, UK, Recycling