Litter: Policy Exchange/CPRE report needs Producer Responsibility

Litter report calls for introduction of recycling incentives : "Retailers are today facing calls to introduce deposit schemes that offer customers a financial incentive to recycle their waste, as part of a drive to reduce litter and impose greater fines on those responsible."

Today's report says littering has increased fivefold since the 1960s, that councils spend £500 million a year on litter-picking, and that "coordination" and deposits are effective in reducing litter.

Amen to deposits on bottles and cans, but the deposit it is not going to work for fag packets and newspapers. Or is it?

In theory, Government subscribes to the principle of Producer Responsibility - that manufacturers are responsible for the entire life cycle of their product. Applied in a wholehearted way, this principle would sort the litter problem.