Could a Tax on Plastic Bottles Address the Pollution on UK Shores?

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is advocating for the UK government to implement a deposit scheme for plastic bottles. This call comes after a significant reduction in plastic bag pollution on British beaches following the introduction of a levy approximately ten years ago.

Recent data reveals that the number of plastic bags found on UK beaches has dropped by 80% since the levy was introduced. In the past year, MCS volunteers recorded 4,684 plastic bags during beach clean-ups nationwide, equating to an average of one bag per 100 meters of surveyed beach—down from five bags per 100 meters in 2014.

Wales pioneered the UK plastic bag levy in 2011, with England following last in 2015 with a 5p charge, later increased to 10p in 2021. Lizzie Price, Beachwatch Manager at MCS, told Sky News, "It shows how just a small charge like 5p can make everyone think twice and look towards more sustainable alternatives. But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. We need broader policies that charge or ban more single-use items where possible, such as the proposed deposit return schemes for plastic bottles, cans, and glass."

MCS data indicates a 14% increase in plastic bottles found on beaches between 2022 and 2023. Although the previous government proposed a deposit scheme for bottles in 2017 to boost recycling efforts, its implementation has been delayed until at least 2027 due to challenges in reaching an agreement with businesses.

Other countries with similar deposit systems have seen a substantial reduction in environmental bottle litter. The current government plans to revisit packaging regulations, including bottle deposits, and is pushing for binding regulations as part of a Global Plastics Treaty. However, talks involving 175 nations have faced delays due to lobbying from the fossil fuel industry, as oil is a primary component of plastic.

Lucy Woodall, Associate Professor of Marine Conservation and Policy at Exeter University, emphasized the need to reduce the production of new plastic. "I don't think we can solve the plastic crisis just by using waste management," she said. "We know that there's mismanaged waste. We know that as plastic pollution gets out into the environment, it's going to get into places that we just can't clean up, like the middle of the deep sea where I work."

The final round of United Nations talks to agree on a treaty is scheduled for late November. The draft still contains numerous unresolved issues, and reaching a deal remains uncertain. The UK is part of a "high-ambition coalition" of countries advocating for reducing plastic production to sustainable levels.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commented, "Plastic pollution has for too long littered our streets, plagued Britain's rivers and seas, and threatened our wildlife. That is why the new government is committed to cutting our reliance on plastics as we move toward a zero-waste economy."