Caroline has responded to a government announcement on a deposit return scheme. The Government has said it will introduce a deposit return scheme to increase recycling rates and slash the amount of waste polluting our land and seas subject to consultation later this year.

Lucas says that such a scheme is 'just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reducing plastics waste'.

She said: 

"After a long delay it is good to see the Government moving forward on this issue. This scheme should have been introduced long ago - and it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reducing plastic waste. If ministers really are serious about tackling the scourge of plastic pollution they will implement this deposit return scheme as soon as possible, then revise their utterly unambitious target of eliminating unavoidable single use plastics by 2042.