An Economic Assessment of a DRS for PET Bottles

In Jamaica, recuperation of PET bottles from the waste stream for processing and export to be recycled is currently estimated to be five to ten percent. One of our recent studies, which assessed various measures for PET waste management, recommended that a deposit-refund system (DRS) be considered to increase recuperation, and improve management, of PET waste in Jamaica. This study's analysis revealed that it is evident that the economic benefits of a DRS largely outweigh the costs, and should therefore be implemented as a means to manage PET bottle waste. Different DRS configurations do, however, entail different costs and a cost-effective DRS configuration should be adopted for its implementation to be of net benefit to the economy. A retailer-based model, with collections done at major retailers across the country, is more cost effective than a depot model – indeed the depot model’s costs outweigh its benefits. The most cost-effective DRS configuration is one using retailers as collection points, and one which is based on automated returns using reverse vending machines. Here, any fixed and operation costs that would be borne by retailers when participating in the DRS would be covered through revenues generated by the DRS, as the retailer is not expected to cover these costs itself.

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STAGE 1 Inception	STAGE 2 Dissemination	STAGE 3 Deliberation	STAGE 4 Implementation	STAGE 5 Impact
CAPRI Explores Solutions for PET (Plastic Bottles) Waste Management Inexpensive, light, durable and versatile, plastic bottles have become a part of everyday life. They have also come to be one of the biggest sources of pollution of our time: one million plastic bottles ..... Read more	CAPRI Launches A Study on the Economic Assessment of a Deposit Refund System (DRS) for PET (Plastic) Bottles CAPRI launched its study on an economic assessment of a Deposit Refund System (DRS) - a solution for PET bottles in Jamaica, at a public forum on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at the Terra Nova Hotel. Mr. ..... Read more	CAPRI Meets with Industry Experts to Share Recommendations for A Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for Plastic Bottles CAPRI’s Executive Director, Dr Damien King, Director of Sustainability – Dr. Suzanne Shaw, and Researcher – Ms. Desiree Phillips met with industry experts on August 28, 2018 and shared ..... Read more CAPRI and Industry Experts Introduce the Proposed Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for Plastic Bottles to the Prime Minister CAPRI along with industry experts introduced the proposed Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles to the Prime Minister, The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at a meeting that was held on January 28, ..... Read more

Stage 1

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CAPRI Explores Solutions for PET (Plastic Bottles) Waste Management

February 12, 2020 | By Author | relations_682

Inexpensive, light, durable and versatile, plastic bottles have become a part of everyday life. They have also come to be one of the biggest sources of pollution of our time: one million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, the majority of which are used just once and thrown away, .....

Stage 2

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CAPRI Launches A Study on the Economic Assessment of a Deposit Refund System (DRS) for PET (Plastic) Bottles

February 12, 2020 | By Author | relations_682

CAPRI launched its study on an economic assessment of a Deposit Refund System (DRS) - a solution for PET bottles in Jamaica, at a public forum on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at the Terra Nova Hotel. Mr. Edson Carr - Projects and Planning Manager, NSWMA; Mr. Francois Chalifour - Director of Marketing, .....

Stage 3

3

CAPRI Meets with Industry Experts to Share Recommendations for A Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for Plastic Bottles

February 12, 2020 | By Author | relations_682

CAPRI’s Executive Director, Dr Damien King, Director of Sustainability – Dr. Suzanne Shaw, and Researcher – Ms. Desiree Phillips met with industry experts on August 28, 2018 and shared the think tank’s recommendations for a Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles. Among .....

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CAPRI and Industry Experts Introduce the Proposed Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for Plastic Bottles to the Prime Minister

February 12, 2020 | By Author | relations_682

CAPRI along with industry experts introduced the proposed Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles to the Prime Minister, The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at a meeting that was held on January 28, 2019, at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The meeting opened with Minister Vaz, Minister .....

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An Economic Assessment of a DRS for PET Bottles