Litter

History of Litter and Packaging

The main driver for the introduction of mandatory deposits on drinks containers in a number of US States in the 1970s was litter, predominantly littered alcohol containers, because the legal drinking age was over 21 whereas in some states even 15 year olds were allowed to drive. Therefore drinks were consumed in cars and the containers thrown into the countryside.

In the 1950s and 1960s in the UK when soft drinks and beer were supplied in refillable glass containers, companies charged a refundable deposit on the bottle as an incentive to encourage consumers to return it for refilling. 

Refillables were gradually replaced by one-trip containers which were economically and environmentally more efficient.  Both refillables and one-trip containers can become litter if handled by someone who is irresponsible but one-trip containers tend to be more eye-catching.  Some campaigners and politicians jumped to the (wrong) conclusion that if a deposit was charged on one-trip containers they would not be littered, despite the fact that refillables which already carried a deposit did get littered.
In Europe, the original driver for the Beverage Containers Directive (the precursor of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive) was also litter.  Early drafts called for non-detachable ring pull ends on cans so that if a can was littered, it would be one rather than two pieces.

In 2002 the German Environment Minister imposed deposits on some drinks containers because he wanted to “remove cans from the countryside”.  Also in 2002, the Irish Environment Minister imposed charges on regular plastic carrier bags to “prevent litter”.

The current Scottish Environment Minister has said that litter is his reason for wanting a carrier bag charge and deposits on drinks containers.

The actor, Jeremy Irons has fronted a film Trashed that links marine litter directly to packaged consumer goods.

Industry’s response has been to support anti-littering bodies and to encourage more on-the-go recycling for recyclable items that are consumed away from home.   However this has not satisfied politicians.

The Issues

Marine Litter: Just like litter on land, marine litter is a complex, multidimensional problem that needs to be solved by preventing deliberate littering and cleaning-up accidental littering. View more on the INCPEN website here...

Litter and Packaging: Litter is any waste in the wrong place. Individuals create litter through thoughtless or anti-social behaviour. Only individuals can therefore prevent it. View more on the INCPEN website here...