Let's stop making nature feel rubbish.
6.7 billion
Currently, 6.7 billion cans and plastic bottles a year in the UK don't get recycled1. No wonder drink containers make up 95% of the litter on our beaches2.
To keep rubbish out of nature, the UK urgently needs a deposit return scheme, allowing drinks containers to be recycled, reused and enabling an efficient Clean Loop Recycling system. And in October 2027 deposit return scheme (DRS) is coming to the UK3.
Clean Loop?
When beverage containers are recycled through a reverse vending machine they stay clean enough to keep their "food grade" status and can be recycled into new beverage containers. Whereas cans and plastic bottles that come into contact with other household waste can be contaminated and are often downcycled into different products.
In Norway, for example, over 92% of drinks are containers are recycled through their deposit return scheme. 6% are collected in other ways and less than 1% end up as litter4.
If Clean Loop Recycling was introduced here, 85% fewer drink containers would be littering our towns and countryside5.
It's time to act
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Want to learn more?
Learn how effective deposit return schemes can be with our white paper that looks at tried-and-tested successes in other European countries.
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Clean Loop Recycling
The Full Story
A guide to Clean Loop Recycling
See the guideWe're part of a coalition of businesses calling for a strong Global Plastics Treaty
Convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF, the coalition brings together businesses and financial institutions committed to supporting the development of an ambitious, effective and legally binding UN treaty to end plastic pollution.
Read about itPolicies, pollution and people
Countries around the world are committing to more aggressive measures in response to the growing plastic pollution problem. Deposit return systems, in combination with reverse vending technology, give policymakers, retailers, and consumers the power to play their part and make an impact.
Check it outFollow in the footsteps of our Deposit Heroes!
Explore the impact a DRS can have, our Deposit Heroes series spotlights people and organisations around the world doing extraordinary work in their local communities.
Deposit Heroes
The Red Cross's recycling lottery becomes pillar of support for humanitarian work
The lottery brings together the excitement of a game, protecting the environment, and supporting a charity making an impact.
Find out moreDeposit Heroes
10-cent Tom contributes to climate action by collecting used beverage containers
Meet the entrepreneur using bottle return to build his own business.
Discover Tom's storyDeposit Heroes
Gazton the recycling dog collects 10,000 Swedish crowns in container deposit refunds
Not all heroes walk on two legs.
Fetch!