"Bring back bottle deposits to stop plastic pollution in our oceans" >>> Surfers Against Sewage to deliver petition to Parliament tomorrow

We've got a problem with plastic:
Futures Forum: Continuing to collect plastic, 'thereby making it easier for householders to recycle' - although the District Council 'cannot guarantee it will be recycled'
Futures Forum: The UK pledges action to reduce plastic waste in the world's oceans - "to lead the world in environmental protection"
Futures Forum: The Plastic Challenge

The Scots and Welsh are taking plastic bottles seriously:
Nicola Sturgeon announces can and bottle deposit return scheme - The Scotsman
Wales could introduce 'plastic tax' to tackle ocean litter - Sky News

The press and politicians are pushing for action:
Lib Dems back Mail's bid for bottle deposit scheme | Daily Mail Online

Tomorrow, the Surfers Against Sewage will be delivering a petition to Parliament:

Bring back bottle deposits to stop plastic pollution in our oceans.

SA

Campaign created by

Surfers Against Sewage

Stop marine plastic pollution by introducing a small, refundable deposit on all plastic bottles, glass bottles and cans to recycle the 16 million plastic bottles thrown away every day.

Why is this important?

In the UK we use a staggering 38.5 million single-use plastic bottles and a further 58 million cans 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.

Plastic bottles take 450 years to break down, killing marine life, harming the coastal ecosystem and ruining our beaches.

Placing a small deposit on plastic bottles and cans would dramatically increase recycling and reduce marine plastic pollution.

This petition has been set up by Surfers Against Sewage, a marine conservation charity. Find out more about Surfers Against Sewage here: http://www.sas.org.uk

For more information on deposit return systems please visit Surfers Against Sewage’s Message In A Bottle campaign site. https://www.sas.org.uk/messageinabottle/

A delegation from Surfers Against Sewage will deliver the petition signatures to the Governments in Westminster (London), Holyrood (Edinburgh), Senedd (Cardiff) and Stormont (Belfast).

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Plastic bottles are littering our high streets, parks and beaches. They don’t rot, so they end up clogging up landfill sites and the sea. [1] But in 24 hours we could change that. [2] 270,000 people have already signed a petition calling for one simple solution: to bring back a bottle deposit scheme. [3] Now, it’s decision time: tomorrow, a group of MPs will decide whether to do it - and they want to hear what the public think first. [4] Let’s tell MPs exactly why plastic pollution & litter needs to be a thing of the past. If thousands of us share why we want to bring back bottle deposits, they won’t be able to ignore us. Will you take the survey now? It takes a few minutes, so put the kettle on. On Friday, we’ll take it straight to MPs.  Plastic pollution is a huge problem, and a deposit scheme may seem like a small step, but it could mean up to 96% of plastic bottles would be returned for recycling. [5] We have already seen that with the 5p plastic bag charge, and the successful 38 Degrees campaign to get supermarkets to switch to paper cotton buds, small changes do add up. [6] It’s incredible how much we’ve done already. Thousands of 38 Degrees members have already signed the Surfers Against Sewage petition, we’ve handed in the petition to MPs in Downing Street, and the Environment Minister Michael Gove MP is backing the scheme. [7] The consultation in 24 hours is our final push to stop plastic bottles littering our beaches and streets for good. So we need to keep up the pressure. The MPs deciding the future of plastic in the UK will be hearing from lots of businesses including some who are very against the idea. What’s missing is the public’s thoughts. A huge survey - telling MPs exactly why the government needs to take plastic pollution seriously - could convince them to bring back bottle deposits. NOTES: [1] Recycle Now: Britain fails to recycle 16 million plastic bottles every day [2] The Guardian: MPs to reopen inquiry into plastic bottle use [3] For example, it could add 10p to the price of a drink and if you return the bottle, you get the money back. It would mean that millions of bottles would get recycled: 38 Degrees: Bring back bottle deposits to stop plastic pollution in our oceans [4] Parliament.uk: Disposable Packaging: Coffee Cups and Plastic Bottles inquiry launched [5] This Is Eco: Should the UK introduce a bottle deposit scheme? [6] The Guardian: England's plastic bag usage drops 85% since 5p charge introduced [7] Facebook: The tide is turning on plastic pollution! Sky News: Gove calls for plastic bottle deposit scheme 'as soon as possible'

Bring back bottle deposits to stop plastic pollution in our oceans. | Campaigns by You
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