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Home > Campaign > Message in a bottle

Message in a bottle

UPDATE 27 March 2018: Surfers Against Sewage is thrilled that the government has committed to introduce a comprehensive deposit return scheme on drinks containers in England in the bid to end plastic pollution, reduce littering and create a more sustainable, circular economy. This huge victory for the environment comes in the wake of concerted campaigning from the beachfront to Parliamentary front benches, calling for a deposit  return scheme to end the environmental scourge of plastic bottles, one of the flagship plastic pollution offenders on our rivers, streets, countryside and coastline.

About the campaign:

In the UK we use a staggering 38.5 million single-use plastic bottles every day. Only half of these are recycled, so it’s no surprise that many of these end up on our beaches and in our oceans.

Our Message In a Bottle petition called for the introduction of a comprehensive UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on plastic bottles and other single use drinks containers.

Deposit return schemes are tried and tested. Introducing a small economic incentive (10-20p deposit) is an incredibly effective way of ensuring consumers leave their single-use plastic bottles and drinks containers in the recycling economy rather than the environment.

Your support made this campaign a great success!

2017 saw the Scottish Parliament back deposit return. SAS also led a delegation of cross-party MPs and charities to deliver 270,000 signatures from the petition to the Prime Minister. With more than 300,000 signatures, your support has made this the UK’s largest petition calling for the introduction of deposit return schemes!

SAS also gave evidence on a UK-wide scheme to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) in the Houses of Parliament. In December 2017 the EAC published its report ‘Plastic bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide’ recommending that the ‘Government introduces a legislated Deposit Return Scheme for all PET plastic drinks bottles’.  This was a fantastic result for our campaign!

But there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that England does not get left behind.  We must continue to challenge the government to create the best possible system covering all plastic, glass and metal single-use drinks containers.

You can  still show your support by signing the Message In A Bottle petition!

Help spread the word

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Events timeline

Key campaign dates

2018

We won!

On 28th March 2018 the Government announced that they are going to introduce a bottle deposit return scheme!
This is a victory for people power. But most of all, it’s an incredible victory for our environment. Congratulations to the hundreds of thousands of people that have campaigned to help make this a reality!

2018

Sports bodies boost support for DRS

Coalition of top watersports groups and marine conservation bodies write to Env Secretary Michael Gove demanding DRS on all bottles and metal cans. Organised by SAS, the letter called for a consistent UK-wide approach to DRS implementation.

2018

Government responds to EAC report

The Government’s response to the EAC report indicates that a decision on DRS could be delayed until after the consultation on a tax on single-use plastics. The EAC replies accusing the Government of having ‘not adequately acted upon, or responded to, the Committee’s recommendations on deposit return schemes and producer responsibility obligations‘.

2017

EAC report published

In December 2017, the EAC publishes its report ‘Plastic Bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide‘ laying out the findings and recommendations from their inquiry into plastic bottle pollution in our oceans and the wider environment. The EAC responded to evidence from cross-sectoral experts, including SAS, supporting the opportunity and need for a deposit return system. The EAC concluded with a recommendation that the ‘Government introduces a legislated Deposit Return Scheme for all PET plastic drinks bottles.’

2017

Env Secretary supports deposit return systems!

Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for the Environment supports deposit return systems. “There’s a real challenge for people like me in Government to step up to the plate and reduce the amount of plastic going into our oceans,” the Environment Secretary added” change needs to come” as plastic pollution is “killing whales, choking dolphins and degrading our oceans and seas“.

Mr Gove went onto describe a plastic bottle deposit system as a “great idea” saying he wants the Government to introduce a plastic bottle deposit system “as soon as possible“.

We couldn’t agree more Mr Gove!

2017

New Environmental Audit Committee Chair

Mary Creagh MP has been re-elected as chair of the Environmental Audit Committee. We’ve written to welcome her back to the post and encouraged her to urgently restart the inquiry into single-use plastic bottles and coffee cups.

2017

Scottish Government commission deposit return system design

We welcome the news the Scottish Government have commissioned a design review for deposit return systems (DRS).

This review will identify the best design for the bottle deposit system before consulting the public. The Scottish Government is expected to come to a final decision next year.

2017

SAS Write to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Gove

SAS wrote to the new Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Gove MP, updating him on the campaign and calling for the Government to commission a feasibility study on deposit return systems.

2017

SAS call for deposit returns in general election manifestos

SAS wrote to all the political parties in the run up to the general election calling on them to include commitments to deposit return systems in their manifestos.  Read more about this action 

• The Green Party included a strong commitment to deposit returns: “Tough action to reduce plastic and other waste, including the introduction of Deposit Return Schemes, with a zero waste target.”
• The Labour Party made a useful reference to “introducing guiding targets for a deposit return scheme”.
• The Conservative Party manifesto committed to “doing more to reduce litter, including supporting comprehensive rubbish collections and recycling”.
• The Liberal Democrats manifesto referenced “Building on the success of our plastic bag charge, introduce a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups to reduce waste.” But no mention of plastic bottle pollution.
• UKIP stated they would “investigate the practicality of introducing a deposit scheme on plastic drinks bottles to encourage recycling.”

2017

Government's National Litter Strategy Published

The Government has published the long-awaited National Litter Strategy for England and we welcome the news that deposit return systems will be seriously assessed as a measure to protect the environment. An expert panel will be looking at evidence to support a successful scheme to add a small refundable deposit to plastic bottles and other containers to help deliver much higher recycling rates, conserve resources, create green jobs, and protect our coastlines from the growing plastic pollution crisis.  Read more

 

2017

Federation for independent retailers support deposit returns for Scotland

The NFRN, the federation representing independent retailers (newsagents and convenience stores) have also come out in support of a deposit return system for Scotland!

That’s industry leaders from the beverage sector (Coca-Cola), Waste & Recycling sector (Suez) and now the small/medium retailers (NFRN) supporting deposit returns for Scotland.

Share this petition with your friends and family to help us persuade the Government.

2017

The Environmental Audit Committee launch inquiry into single-use plastic bottles & coffee cups

The Government’s Environmental Audit Committee are undertaking an inquiry into the staggering number of single-use plastic bottles and throwaway coffee cups that are used everyday in the UK.  Evidence will be received before 5th April and the committee will report back to the Government summer 2017.

2017

A motion supporting deposit return systems set down in Scottish Parliament

A motion supporting deposit return systems has been set down in the Scottish Parliament, receiving the support of almost 50 MSP, from all political parties, in the first week.

2017

Coca Cola & Suez support deposit return systems

Industry giants Coca Cola perform an unexpected but welcomed public U-turn to support deposit return systems.  In the same week, waste and recycling industry leader Suez publicly back the deposit returns, promoting the benefits for the economy, communities and the environment.

2017

SAS secure 200,000 signtures on our petition

The Message In A Bottle petition is hosted on the 38 degrees site and collects an extra 200,000 signatures in the first month.

2017

Sky and the Daily Mail support the campaign

Sky launch their Sky Ocean Rescue featuring HRH the Prince of Wales, Sir Richard Branson and Sir Ben Ainslie all supporting deposit return systems.

The Daily Mail run multiple stories on the need for deposit returns across the front pages and with several double page spreads and editorials.

2017

Hundreds of supporters lobby their MPs

SAS supporters sent several hundred letters to their MPs, MSPs, WAMs and MLAs calling for deposit return systems.

2016

Early Day Motion for Deposit Return Systems

Protect Our Waves All Party Parliamentary Group member and Green Party co leader Caroline Lucas MP sponsored an Early Day Motion for deposit return systems.  The Early Day Motion has support from MPs from seven political parties.

2016

SAS beach clean volunteers removed 50,000 bottles and cans from UK beaches

SAS volunteers at the SAS Big Spring Beach Clean and Autumn Beach Clean Series removed 50,000 plastic bottles and cans from beaches across the UK!  Thank you team, you are awesome!!

2016

New study published show appetite for deposit return system

Cardiff University published a paper establishing how popular and effective the 5p bag charge has been and demonstrated how the public have a clear appetite for deposit return systems.

2016

Launched the campaign

The campaign was launched in August 2016.  An impressive 5,000 supporters signed the Message In A Bottle petition on day one

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