Did David Attenborough Cause This Government Change?

The last ever Blue Planet II aired last week and it took an uncompromising look at the impact humans have had on marine life. David Attenborough stared into our souls down the camera lens and held every single one of us accountable (obvs in a loving grandad kind of way) for the sheer amount of plastic we use and discard.

Now, in response to the harrowing documentary, the government is introducing a scheme to cut back even further on plastic waste. We’ll soon have to pay a deposit when we buy drinks bottles and cans in a bid to boost recycling and cut waste and I’m here for it. The deposit will of course increase prices of single-use glass, plastic bottles, steel and aluminium cans. However, shoppers will get the money back if they return the containers.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove echoed Attenborough and said: ‘We can be in no doubt that plastic is wreaking havoc on our marine environment – killing dolphins, choking turtles and degrading our most precious habitats. It is absolutely vital we act now to tackle this threat and curb the millions of plastic bottles a day that go unrecycled.’

**See the heartbreaking video of how the waste impacts marine life. **

Although we don’t know full details yet, like how much the deposit will cost, similar schemes in countries such as Germany and Sweden have costs ranging from 8p-22p.

This is the latest crack down on plastic that the government has announced, following the 5p plastic bag charge in 2015 and the [banning of microbeads](https://thedebrief.co.uk/news/real-life/tesco-will-remove-products-containing-harmful-microbeads-end-2016/end-2016/) the year after. Frankly, it’s all necessary. Apparently, UK consumers go through an estimated [13 billion plastic drinks bottles a year, ](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deposit-return-scheme-in-fight-against-plastic)butbut){href='https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deposit-return-scheme-in-fight-against-plastic)but' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' class='add-referrer-link'}astic)but even more than three billion are actually incinerated, sent to landfill or left to pollute our land and oceans.

Attenborogh’s documentaries have brought to light what atrocities we’re doing to our earth and these schemes are a great start. [According to a national poll,](https://packagingeurope.com/national-poll-sheds-light-on-deposit-return-scheme/-scheme/) the public are on board because nearly 3 quarters of British consumers (74%) would be likely to return plastic bottles and aluminium cans, if they had to pay a deposit of just 10p on each one.

Another factor as to why this scheme is so important, is the growing size of the Great Pacific garbage patch. The patch is circulating the ocean and is now believed to be 3 times the size of France, making it the largest accumulation zone for ocean plastics on Earth.

Like it or loath it, it’s happening and it’s definitely for the best. We survived paying for shopping bags and we’ll survive this. Let’s just hope the marine life does too

Follow Emma on Twitter** @EmmaLowther **@EmmaLowther

**READ MORE: 11 of the best reusable cups **

This article originally appeared on The Debrief.