Trading standards officers in Derby found themselves in a difficult (although I’m sure some would say enviable) position after confiscating over 700 litres of bootlegged alcohol in the run-up to Christmas last year.
The problem was deciding how to get rid of it. The illegal booze couldn’t be sold on or poured down the drains because some of it was contaminated, and leaving a large quantity of flammable liquid in storage isn’t a particularly smart idea. Short of throwing the wildest party Derby has ever seen, and damn the consequences, the officers were stumped for how to get rid of it.
After months of head-scratching the eventual solution was rather elegant. Someone realised that feeding the alcohol into a nearby anaerobic digester would produce methane, which could be used to make electricity.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.