Problems with the Current Returnable Container System

Under the Returnable Containers Act, the refund value for PET bottles is supposed to be 10 cents per bottle.

In practice, bottle depots generally pay only 5 cents per bottle. The full 10-cent refund may only be paid when bottles are returned to B's Recycling:

• Sorted by colour;
• Placed in specific bags; and
• Returned in certain quantities.

For bottles such as Powerade bottles, water bottles, and fruit juice bottles, the refund is 2 cents for every 10 bottles at B's Recycling only. The other bottle depots don't take them at all.

At that rate, a person must collect 500 bottles to receive just $1.00 from B's only. This provides almost no financial incentive for members of the public to collect and return these bottles. As a result, many of these bottles are not collected and remain scattered along roadsides, gullies, beaches and other areas across Barbados.

The system is also confusing because some water bottle brands are imported or distributed by more than one company. Bottle depots may therefore refuse bottles or be uncertain about which distributor is responsible for accepting them.

Proposed Solution

The bottle deposit should be collected when the bottles first enter the Barbadian market.

For imported bottles:

• The deposit should be collected at the point of importation.
• The money should be placed into a dedicated returnable-container fund.

For bottles manufactured in Barbados:

• The deposit should be collected when the bottles are sold by the manufacturer.
• This money should also be placed into the same dedicated fund.

Consumers should be entitled to return eligible bottles to approved distributors, retailers or bottle depots and receive the full refund of 10 cents. Distributors, retailers and bottle depots should then be reimbursed from the dedicated fund for the refunds they pay to consumers.

This would remove confusion over which company originally imported or distributed each bottle. It would also ensure that the deposit money is available before the bottle is sold and remains available until the bottle is returned.

A properly funded and centrally administered system would:

• Encourage more people to collect bottles;
• Increase recycling rates;
• Reduce litter across Barbados;
• Make the refund process simpler and more transparent; and
• Ensure that the legally required refund value is actually paid.