Up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enters the oceans every year, that's the equivalent of a rubbish truck's worth every minute. The amount of plastic rubbish already in the ocean could circle the Earth over 400 times.
Introducing a plastic bottle deposit return scheme in UK would be a huge step towards stopping the flow of plastic into our oceans. These schemes are not a new idea, but they could help provide the solution to this unprecedented new plastic problem. Schemes like this are already well established in countries such as Germany and Belgium with collection rates up to 90%.
Initiatives like the plastic bag charge – which cut bag use by more than 80% – show the impact which government legislation can have. It's a measure that is already really helping to reduce plastic pollution on land and at sea.
We can no longer think of plastic as a throwaway resource. We need to demand that companies reduce their plastic footprint and take responsibility for what they produce, and that governments ensure as much plastic as possible is collected and reused, to reduce the amount of waste we produce.
Sign now to show your support for a nationwide plastic bottle return scheme.
