PLANS for bottle return scheme – aimed at battling a rising tide of plastic waste – have been welcomed.

One delighted Swindon brewer told government to "bring it on".

But some fear it could push up prices for customers and retailers.

In a bid to encourage people to recycle single-use drinks bottles and cans, ministers have this morning proposed a deposit return scheme, with people given back a small cash when they bring back empty bottles and cans.

Similar schemes are already in operation across Europe. In Germany, customers have a 22p deposit redeemed when they return their drinks container. It has been credited with increasing recycling rates in Germany to 97 per cent.

The plans, which will be subject to consultation later in the year, form part of plans to tackle plastic waste.

Environment secretary Michael Gove 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.”

It is expected that retailers and customers will pick up the tab for the scheme.

Andrew Opie, British Retail Consortium’s director of food and sustainability, has previously said that deposit return schemes would “hit customers with an upfront charge, pushing up the cost of living to the tine of tens of millions of pounds”.

However, this morning he struck a more conciliatory tone, adding: “We’re pleased the government has said any scheme will be based on evidence and any costs for consumers and retailers will be proportionate.”

Meanwhile, Swindon-based Arkell’s Brewery, which sells bottled beers from its Stratton shop, welcomed the proposals.

Head brewer Alex Arkell said: “The idea of recycling glass and metal is a hugely positive step. When I was studying brewing in Bavaria just a few years ago, it was normal for all bottles to be returned to the brewery for washing and recycling.

“At Arkell’s we recycled all our bottles for decades in an enormous bottle washing machine right up to the 1990s - so for us it will be a return to traditional ways.

“It’s good for the environment and I can’t really see any negatives for us at the brewery. Bring it on.”

Denis Sebasty, owner of Old Town’s Victoria News said: “It’s welcome for the environment, but I don’t know how it will affect us.”

Responding to the announcement by Mr Gove, the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s (CPRE) litter programme director Samantha Harding described it as a “brilliant and significant decision”.

“I am thrilled that we will finally see the many benefits a deposit scheme will bring to England, not least the absence of ugly drinks containers in our beautiful countryside,” she said.

A spokeswoman for Swindon-based charity the National Trust added: "We warmly welcome the Deposit Return Scheme that the Government has announced, and hope that it will be part of a suite of measures to significantly reduce plastic use and waste.

"We would be open to exploring bottle banks at our own shops and other places we look after, and to looking at other ways to support the scheme."