Report calls for action on London’s plastic bottle waste
The population of London consumes the contents of 7.7 billion plastic water bottles each year, more than any other area of the country, according to a report by the London assembly environment committee. The capital also has a recycling rate of just 32%, compared to the national average of 43%. The report calls on London mayor Sadiq Khan to operate a deposit return system and to provide free tap water at locations including train stations, tube stations and bus stops. A recent study from the Thames21 waterways group found that plastic bottles comprise 10% of all litter in the Thames.
The amount of waste from single-use plastic bottles in London has risen out of control, according to a report from the London assembly environment committee.

It calls on the mayor to consider introducing a deposit return scheme and to provide free tap water as an alternative.

The report, published on Thursday, finds that the London population consumes more plastic bottled water than anywhere else in England – 7.7bn a year – yet has the worst recycling rate in the UK – 32%, compared with a national average of 43%.

Plastic bottles make up 10% of all litter found in the Thames, the Thames21 waterways group revealed recently. A separate study found three-quarters of the flounder swimming in the river had ingested plastic. Plastic bottles take 450 years to break down.

What are deposit return schemes? Deposit return schemes (DRS), through which consumers pay a small sum (equivalent to 10p or 20p) upon purchase which is refunded when they return a bottle or can, operate in at least a dozen countries including Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Australia. In Germany, where DRS machines are located in places such as supermarkets, 99% of plastic bottles are recycled. Recycling rates in the UK are currently at less than 50%. But a relatively small economic incentive has had a major impact in England – the 5p charge on plastic bags led to an 85% drop in the first six months alone.

The report urges the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to address the specific issue of plastic water bottle waste in his upcoming environment strategy. It recommends that he examines the feasibility and practicalities of a bottle deposit return scheme, which the government could later roll out nationwide. Such a scheme would offer an incentive to return plastic bottles by adding a reclaimable amount to the price of bottled drinks.

To reduce Londoners’ thirst for bottled water, tap water should be more readily available from community refill facilities and at mainline rail and underground stations as well as bus stops, the report says.

HydraChill water refilling stations have been trialled at Hammersmith bus station in west London and a number of piers along the Thames, which have proven popular with both commuters and staff. Apps could also be promoted to help consumers locate businesses willing to provide free water refills, the report suggests.

“Plastic waste is out of control in London,” said Leonie Cooper, who chairs the environment committee. “It litters our parks, pollutes the Thames, harms marine life and adds waste to London’s landfill sites, which may be full by 2025. We have to turn the situation around. Firstly, Londoners need an alternative to buying bottles of water – this is a crucial part of the solution. Tap water needs to be more readily available. Secondly, we need to improve our recycling of plastic bottles. Currently, far too many end up in landfill or in the natural environment.”



Cooper said voters had heard Khan’s pledge to be “the greenest mayor London has ever had”. “Now it’s time for him to fulfil that promise by addressing our thirst for plastic bottled water,” she said

The mayor’s spokesperson said: “Sadiq is extremely supportive of initiatives to help boost access to tap water on the go, such as stores and restaurants providing free tap water, and, rather than just a London scheme, believes that government needs to consider a national deposit return scheme to encourage the re-use of plastic water bottles.

“The mayor’s forthcoming environment strategy will include proposals aimed at reducing food and drink waste, including packaging, and increasing recycling rates.”

The average UK household uses 480 plastic bottles a year, but recycles only 270 of them, according to Recycle Now, a campaign group funded by the government’s waste advisory group Wrap.

In a significant policy U-turn this year, the soft drinks firm Coca-Cola threw its weight behind a deposit return scheme for drinks bottles in Scotland. It said 63% of consumers supported the introduction of such a system in the UK, and 51% said they would be more likely to recycle as a result. Coca-Cola had previously strongly opposed the idea, fearing it could negatively affect its business.