Forum Topic

98% of bottles in Germany are returned for recycling  :  Less than 50% in the UK

They have a bottle return deposit system.https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/bring-back-bottle-deposits-to-stop-plastic-pollution-in-our-oceans-1Support this while our MPs are discussing how to deal with all the plastic litter in our streets, parks and beaches.  Just a few days left to make a submission - See the info below.You can also share on Facebook. http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2015/disposable-packaging-coffee-cups-plastic-bottles-inquiry-launch-16-17/

Philippa Bond ● 3316d9 Comments

Correct, in Germany bottles and cans (containing drinks)carry a deposit and everyone returns them to the shop and if not you can always see homeless people or people in need picking them up to return them to the supermarket/shop to make some extra cash. Even children do this to top up their pocket money. Recycling is greatly encouraged everywhere. In the supermarkets you have recycling stations so you can leave unwanted rubbish right there. For plastics bags the Germans pay already way over 20 years. The UK is really behind in this matter. As a German living here for many years, I still get annoyed by the reluctance to recycle and rethink.

Kathleen Kelber ● 3282d

Find out about recycling glass here at the above.

Philippa Bond ● 3282d

http://www.wrap.org.uk/about-us/about/wrap-and-circular-economyToo many plastic bottles are ending up in the oceans and elsewhere rather than being recycled - and too many of them are being made out of virgin plastic rather than recycled plastic.  They are increasingly found left in our parks by the type of people who just get up and walk away from the packaging from their picnics on just on-the-go grazing in our streets.  Work has been done with various manufacturers by WRAP to lightweight glass bottles and lightweight cans so that less is used in the manufacture.  Take a look at their website to see what has been done.Reuse is obviously preferable and it is sad that the reusable glass milk bottle which could be reused about 15 times and was delivered by an electric float is mostly a thing of the past.  Glass can reused again and again.Take a look at innovation:https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/case-studies

Philippa Bond ● 3283d

There is a huge difference between re use of a bottle and recycling glass bottles. If a bottle is recycled into another glass bottle it must be crushed and then melted down in a factory before it can be remade. Obviously that will involve considerable heat and power. However if a bottle is simply re-used the saving in energy compared with either using a new bottle or a re-cycled bottle will be considerable. In Germany I believe many bottles carry a small return deposit and get returned either by their original buyers or by anyone else wishing to make a little money by looking for and returning abandoned bottles in waste bins etc.

david thaddeus ● 3283d

Are you sure that's right? I've seen a claim that the energy SAVED by recycling a glass bottle could power a light bulb for seven hours.

Norman Redfern ● 3284d

I am a recycling campaigner too, but recently read that the energy used to recycle a glass bottle would power a light bulb for a month. What we need is 100% recyclable plastic, and more people reusing before recycling.

dale evans ● 3285d

https://www.sas.org.uk/uncategorised/national-litter-strategy-deposit-return-systems-edging-closer/There's a newly issued Government Report on Litter.Sign the online Message in a Bottle campaign!

Philippa Bond ● 3306d

Take a look at the trailer for this film...

Philippa Bond ● 3309d

What is troubling is when we have taxes which are designed to deal with this by encouraging recycling, better packaging and reduced packaging and then we have global companies who appear to be just be taking the mickey and taking their profits out of the country.

Philippa Bond ● 3312d