Coca-Cola hails Olympics recycling trial ahead of UK deposit return scheme

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Coca-Cola said its trial of a “closed loop” recycling scheme at the Paris Olympics has been a “valuable” test ahead of a long-awaited deposit return scheme launching in the UK in 2027. Coca-Cola, which has been involved with the Olympic Games since Amsterdam 1928, also set up 700 drink fountains with refill options, returnable glass and plastic bottles made from recycled material, excluding caps and labels, and served drinks in reusable cups provided by Paris 2024. Although the DRS will be different to Paris 2024 – where different venues collected plastic bottles and returnable cups as opposed to consumers returning their empty drinks containers via reverse vending machines within grocery stores – Coca-Cola said it supported trialling various systems as collection rates stagnated in the UK. “We are reviewing the suite of packaging reforms and are going to work with our devolved government counterparts, industry and other stakeholders to determine the next steps for the Deposit Return Scheme.” Jim Bligh, director of corporate affairs and packaging at the Food and Drink Federation, said: “It’s good to see the Government committing to putting a Deposit Return Scheme in place as part of plans for a circular economy.