Clean seas need bottle deposits, campaigners tell Minister

March 23, 2018

A zero-waste campaign group for action on plastics has contacted the Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage to congratulate her on signing the clean seas pledge, but regrets bottle deposits aren’t on the agenda.

Earlier in the month Minister Sage signed the United Nations-led Clean Seas Pledge, commiting the New Zealand government to reducing marine plastic pollution.

The Kiwi Bottle Drive campaign coordinator Holly Dove says while she welcomes the Minister’s commitment to cleaning up oceans, there is a lot of work to do, and it can’t be done without bottle deposits on the table.

“We are excited to see the Minister taking leadership on ocean plastics, and we’ve contacted her to congratulate her and ask her to back up the commitment with strong action like introducing bottle deposits.”

Bottle deposits are a cash-back for your plastic scheme, already delivering successful results in many other countries, including Australia, Germany and Canada.

Initiatives like bottle deposits are essential for a healthy ocean, she says.

“Countries with bottle deposits see incredible 80% - 98% return rates of bottles and a recent study showed marine litter has decreased in Australia by 40% - thanks to bottle deposits.”

“bottle deposits are an easy way to deliver on the pledge - they’re effective and evidence backed,” says Dove.

“Our seas just can’t wait any longer and we need the government to take action to cut plastic waste down - and the strongest contender are bottle deposits.”

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