In some countries certain types of empty bottles are refundable, in England many years ago you used to get a deposit paid for empty bottles too, I wonder if this was re-introduced if it would reduce the amount of bottles now discarded as litter, somehow I doubt it, it seems to me many peoples attitudes to litter has changed over the years and a certain element of society now seems to accept litter as just as normal as leaf fall instead of the disgusting eyesore it is, in germany the government had to go to court to get the legislation introduced as it was opposed by the bottling companies and retailers which is typical of big business, this link shows info on refundable bottles, I thought the reversible vending machines in germany and norway accepting empty bottles was interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_deposit_legislation
refundable bottles
- Thread starter Joonsy
- Start date
In Sweden where i go a lot this is a common thing. all the bottles and cans can be recycled. What happens is you pay 2kr on the bottle when you buy it and then you get 2kr back when you recycle it. It works really well and there isn't as many bottles and cans thrown away. But sadly you cannot eradicate it completely. I think they should introduce it in the UK IMO.
It would indeed reduce the visible liiter. The problem arises when you consider the energy (fuel) used to collect, wash, and prepare the bottles for re-use. That type of recycling actually has a bigger carbon footprint than making new ones. And that's before you consider the chemical polution from the soaps used.
I think the main issue is alu cans and plastic bottles (in the countryside). Glass has a very high recycle rate in the UK these days. I doubt it would be viable to charge a deposit on them. In my mind its about better education. My daughter is six and her school have nominated 'eco warriors' in each class to promote recycling amongst other things. As was once said ' I believe the Children are our future teach them well.....' 
I think the main issue is alu cans and plastic bottles (in the countryside). Glass has a very high recycle rate in the UK these days. I doubt it would be viable to charge a deposit on them. In my mind its about better education. My daughter is six and her school have nominated 'eco warriors' in each class to promote recycling amongst other things. As was once said ' I believe the Children are our future teach them well.....'
Hi barethrills, it would be nice indeed if the next generation were more conscientious.
AFAIK england is still one of those countries, on certain types of bottle. i'm 3 or 4 years out of touch but i've worked in the licenced for most of adult life and there have always been refundable bottles in pubs, newcastle brown is the one that springs to mind first, the problem is that the consumer doesn't know about it, they pay the deposit on the bottle and then the publican gets that deposit back as a credit note against their next order (if they do their job properly and collect all the empties that is). also, how do you buy your milk? is it in a plastic bottle from tesco or in a recycled glass bottle from the local milkman?
cheers
stuart
Hi outdoordude, nice to know it works well, any reduction in bottles littering the place is good,
No. Recycling is part of the answer; but "re-use" isn't neccessarily the best way to "recycle."
I think the main issue is alu cans and plastic bottles (in the countryside). Glass has a very high recycle rate in the UK these days. I doubt it would be viable to charge a deposit on them. In my mind its about better education. My daughter is six and her school have nominated 'eco warriors' in each class to promote recycling amongst other things. As was once said ' I believe the Children are our future teach them well.....'
Plastic is a problem here as well (although it can be effectively recycled into other products) but the aluminum is one of the better success stories. The sheer price of scrap aluminum (by weight) is enough to discourage anybody (here at least) from just discarding it.
Oh Gods, just what we need - more laws
The problem here is not bottling companies, or retailers. Its the irresponsible oiks who chuck litter. Why not punish them rather than everyone else?
The problem here is not bottling companies, or retailers. Its the irresponsible oiks who chuck litter. Why not punish them rather than everyone else?
Hi shaggystu, i thought deposits went out many years ago, surprised to hear it's in force like you say, milk wise i mostly just use powdered milk and rarely buy liquid milk, when i do generally in glass bottle form, oddly enough where i buy from the bottles have just changed from crimp-top to screw-top and the shop says new type no longer returnable.
Oh Gods, just what we need - more laws
The problem here is not bottling companies, or retailers. Its the irresponsible oiks who chuck litter. Why not punish them rather than everyone else?
Hi british red, yes that's a true comment, it is the litter louts that cause the problem, which is why i said attitudes would not change (attitudes in litter louts that is) which was my main point really that some people now accept litter as normal, very sad.
Oh Gods, just what we need - more laws
The problem here is not bottling companies, or retailers. Its the irresponsible oiks who chuck litter. Why not punish them rather than everyone else?
i'm with you entirely on this one red, littering is already illegal, we don't need new laws to prevent it we simply need to enforce the ones that we already have
as i say mate, i'm a few years out of touch, but refunds were still happening within the licenced trade until relatively recently, it's just that the consumer was ignorant to the practice
I think the main issue is alu cans and plastic bottles (in the countryside). Glass has a very high recycle rate in the UK these days. I doubt it would be viable to charge a deposit on them. In my mind its about better education. My daughter is six and her school have nominated 'eco warriors' in each class to promote recycling amongst other things. As was once said ' I believe the Children are our future teach them well.....'
This set of ads was very successful when it first aired: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM I wish they would bring it back.
It's more suitable for here, but I'm sure Britsh advertisers have more than enough imagination to come up with something equally suitable for there and equally effective.
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Hi santaman2000, pricking the conscience of those that discard litter doen't seem to work over here in my opinion, they don't seem to think they're doing anything wrong or don't care.
There are always people like that (there or here) but TBH a deposit wouldn't faze them either; unless it was high enough that it was a hardship. Then you would also be causing the same hardship to the rest of society, many of whom might be ill able to afford it.
agreed, it seems a problem we just have to put up with, that type of person is like a hump on your back that irritates you but you can't get rid of it.
Of course we can get rid of it - but we are too bleeding heart about it. Full time litter picking in an orange jumpsuit for both weekend days for 12 months for a first offense. That would cut it down I suspect.
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