I reminded of this just because I have so many plastic bottles in my room. It is not even eco friendly to burn them outside. Unfortunately, we do not have an effective and "approchable for anyone at anytime" kind of recycling methods here.
I recently heard of something related to that and thought to share it here. In many European countries, there is a deposit return system (DRS) for plastic bottles, which encourages recycling by allowing consumers to return their empty bottles for a refund of a deposit they paid when purchasing the item.
This system is designed to reduce plastic waste, increase recycling rates, and encourage the reuse of materials.
Here’s how it typically works. When a consumer buys a drink in a plastic bottle or sometimes in cans, a small deposit is added to the purchase price. After consuming the drink, consumers can return the empty bottle to a designated collection point, usually a reverse vending machine located in supermarkets or other public places.
When the bottle is returned, the deposit is refunded, either as cash or in the form of a voucher for future purchases. The collected bottles are then sent for recycling or refilling, depending on the system in place. This helps to use plastic circularly and reduce environmental pollution.
Examples for the Countries with Deposit Systems are Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Other European countries like Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands also have successful bottle deposit return systems.
The idea behind these systems would be effective even it takes some grudges and a lot of effort to establish something freshly and approachably inside a country with a good influence.