Pubs should be exempt from deposit scheme costs says BBPA

The call will aid a Government consultation on the proliferation return and reward deposit schemes for drinks containers.

Simmonds said: “It is right that the Government should focus on plastic waste from on-the-go consumption. The beer and pub industry contributes a significant amount to the current recycling infrastructure through the PRN (packaging recovery note) system, ensuring a high rate of recycling of glass bottles and cans. 

“With 93% of beer sales in pubs from reusable kegs and casks, this also displaces billions of individual containers in each year. A deposit scheme would impose new costs on pubs, which already face big financial pressures. It is important therefore that pubs are exempt from any deposit scheme.”

Reducing the amount of plastic waste produced is a hot topic, with Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond outlining his determination to investigate how the tax system and charges on single-use plastics can help reduce waste during November’s Autumn Budget​ – citing the popularity of the BBC’s Blue Planet II​ as he announced both his and Environment Secretary Michael Gove’s plans.

A signatory of the 2025 Courtauld Commitment, the BBPA currently operates Sustain, its own, not-for-profit packaging waste compliance scheme specifically aimed at the drinks industry, and has worked with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and The Industry Council for research on Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN) to reduce the amount of waste produced by the hospitality sector.

The Treasury recently revealed that the amount of plastic wasted every year in the UK would be enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall more than 1,000 times. 

As reported by The Morning Advertiser​, Gove proposed a deposit scheme for bottles​ at this year's Conservative Party conference.