Page 41 - Plastics News September 2019

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

77% of Scots support bottle deposit California’s plan to phase out

return scheme single-use plastics by 2030

<RX*RY VXUYH\ FRPPLVVLRQHG E\ =HUR :DVWH 6FRWODQG ith pressure mounting
A has found that approximately 77% of people in Scotland :to address the state’s
support the introduction of the country’s bottle deposit recycling crisis, California
return scheme (DRS).Under the drinks packaging DRS, lawmakers are close to
Scottish consumers would pay a 20p deposit on single- deciding on three far-
use drinks containers in addition to the product price. reaching pieces of plastics
This would be refunded upon recycling at a nominated legislation, including one
returns location.The study also revealed that 72% and that would phase out
70% of the respondents consider helping the environment non-recyclable single-use
and reducing the litter in Scotland respectively as their packaging containers by
motivating factors to return empty drinks containers. 2030. All three bills are potentially close to landing on
=HUR :DVWH 6FRWODQG FKLHI H[HFXWLYH ,DLQ *XOODQG VDLG the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom, but they face varying
“Scotland’s deposit return scheme will make it easy for levels of opposition from plastics makers and consumer
people to do something good for the environment. “People goods companies, some of which have mounted
in Scotland are more environmentally aware than ever 11th-hour campaigns to kill or weaken the proposals.
before but it can be hard to know how to respond to California has been a trailblazer in banning single-use
something as monumental as the climate emergency at an plastics bags and turning plastic straws into fast-food
individual level.“This scheme will give them an action they pariahs, but a sunset for single-use containers would
can do week-in and week-out to help cut Scotland’s carbon thrust the state into new territory. So would a bill by
Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), which would
require beverage containers to contain no less than
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a hard look at ourselves,” said Ting, the author of AB
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not be a disposable society, but a recyclable society.”

Recycling markets in California and nationwide have
been roiled by China’s decision not to accept certain
containers that consumers tossed into their blue bins
for years. The collapse of the market for plastics and
other recovered items has forced many recycling
centers to either pay to get rid of their recyclables or
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footprint.“By taking back your empty bottle or can, you the closure of scores of redemption centers statewide.
won’t just get your 20p back. You’ll also be reducing the Eight states—California, Connecticut, Delaware,
amount of raw materials that are used to make bottles and Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon and Vermont—
cans. “That means you’ll be playing a part in Scotland’s have banned single-use plastic bags.In August 2014,
response to the climate emergency every single time you &DOLIRUQLD EHFDPH WKH ÀUVW VWDWH WR HQDFW OHJLVODWLRQ
take your bottle or can back to be recycled.” In February, imposing a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags
the Scottish Government received a positive response at large retail stores. The bill also required a 10-cent
from the public to implement the DRS, highlighting their minimum charge for recycled paper bags, reusable
support for a minimum deposit level of 15p. The DRS covers plastic bags, and compostable bags at certain locations.
polyethene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles used for The ban was set to take effect on July 1, 2015, but
À]]\ GULQNV DV ZHOO DV ZDWHU ERWWOHV DORQJ ZLWK VWHHO a referendum forced the issue onto the ballot in the
aluminium and glass bottles. November 2016 election.

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43 September 2019 Plastics News