Context of the problem.
Plastic pollution is a cause for concern within the UK. Britannica defines plastic pollution as the ‘accumulation in the environment of synthetic plastic products to the point where they create problems for wildlife and their habitats as well as for human populations’. It is a significant environmental and economic problem that cannot be ignored for much longer. According to statistics researched from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) 7.7 million plastic bottles are used in the UK per year generating 2.4 million tonnes of plastic waster which – in 2020 – only 45% was effectively recycled. 55% of the recycling is carried out in the UK, the rest is exported to countries such as Turkey. The environmental costs of plastic pollution are drastic. Studies carried out by the University of Plymouth found that over 80% of litter found on beaches across the UK was made from plastic. More research on the dire costs of plastic pollution led me to a startling fact. A charity called ‘KeepBritainTidy’ found that 100% of the 1.1 million marine animals that wash up on the beach contain plastic within their stomachs. Plastic pollution is an issue, and it needs addressing.
Original solution.
To address this market failure, I propose a Deposit-Return Scheme (DRS) that should be imposed on all single-use plastics within the UK eg, plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic straws etc. The Deposit-Return Scheme would work as follows: a refundable deposit of £1 is added onto all single-use plastics within the UK. After the purchase of a single-use plastic bag; the person may only receive the £1 fee back if they discard the single-use plastic inside of a recycling centre. The fee will remain constant at £1 for all types of single-use plastics. For example, a person buying a plastic bottle may use a plastic bag to carry it, hence, he or she must pay a £2 deposit which he or she may be refunded for if recycling both the bottle and the bag.
How the DRS will help.
The DRS offers a financial incentive to increase the of rate of recycling across UK households. Although the fee is small, it is a large proportion of the general cost of single-use plastics. For example, it may turn a £2 bottle into a £3 bottle – increasing the price by 50%. Over time, these fees may accumulate, providing an inconvenience for a household and forcing a recycling habit.
Furthermore, it may increase the demand for reusable and sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. People will likely consider using reusable water flasks or paper bags with no added charge, then purchase a plastic bag which they then have to recycle, proving to be an inconvenience. Additionally, reusable goods are only a one-time purchase, whereas disposable ones require many purchases, further incentivising households to replace single-use plastics for reusable alternatives.
Ultimately, the policy will have a positive impact in reducing the amount of plastic pollution generated within the UK. I believe this may be achieved in a reasonably short period of time – the only drawbacks being time lags in implementing the DRS scheme within retail stores. However, once implemented it is certain to help make the UK a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly country.
Comments