THE local branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England has hit out at the government’s decision to delay the Deposit Return Scheme.
Campaigns and policy director Tom Fyans said: “Despite huge public appetite to tackle the waste crisis, we have mountains of litter piling up in our countryside.
“New research shows that around eight billion drinks containers are landfilled, littered or burnt every year.
“Despite all this, the government looks set to delay a Deposit Return Scheme until the end of 2024 – essentially shirking their responsibility and waiting for a new government to show any leadership on the issue.
“This amounts to six long years of dither and delay.
“In fact it is so much more than kicking the can down the road – it seems that in the face of industry lobbying, Ministers would prefer to stick their heads in the sand rather than tackle the problem of waste head on.
“The evidence is clear that an ‘all-in’ Deposit Return Scheme is the best option for people, planet and our economy.
“It beggars belief that when the evidence is so clear that an ‘all-in’ deposit system is needed, they are still unwilling to make the polluter pay.”
The UK government announced a second consultation for the proposed deposit return scheme (DRS) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Wednesday, March 24, saying any legislation would not come into effect until late 2024 at the earliest.
The move was initially proposed in 2018.
This latest consultation will run until June 4, 2021.
