According to a new survey, one in five people using a UK-wide deposit return system would donate all the deposits they’d paid on drinks cans and bottles to charity.

This could result in annual donations of more than £1 billion to good causes.

The survey, published today by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, revealed that a further 19 per cent of respondents said they would donate their deposits most of the time, and 34 per cent would donate at least some of the time.

This could lead to a further £1.3 billion in donations to local charitable causes. The donations could be even higher if drinks cartons and pouches are also included in England’s deposit system.

Following the results, the charity suggests that by including an option for the public to donate their deposits – something that is part of most other deposit systems around the world – we could build on the huge success of the carrier bag charge. As well as reducing plastic bag usage by over 80 per cent, this charge raised £66 million for good causes in 2016/17.

Samantha Harding, litter programme director at CPRE, said: "Not only would the introduction of a UK-wide deposit return system put a stop to most of the environmental damage caused by drinks containers and boost recycling rates in excess of 90 per cent, it could also provide much needed funding for good causes across the country.

"It is fantastic and really heartening that so many people would be happy to donate their deposits in this way.

"An effective 'all-in' deposit return system will bring an end to the growing disenchantment and scepticism around current recycling methods by doubling recycling rates. But it’s also evident that the deposit, as well as encouraging the right behaviour in terms of recycling, would allow for people’s generous natures to be realised when it comes to supporting others.

"It’s important to ensure that England’s scheme includes every bottle, can, carton and pouch, whatever the shape, size or material. Not only will this halt the devastation caused to our countryside and environment by drinks container pollution, but if every type of drinks packaging is included in the scheme, it could result in more donated deposits, benefitting nature and local communities."

In the UK 28 billion single-use glass, plastic and aluminium drinks bottles and cans are sold every year according to recent government figures. Due to ineffective waste collection and recycling systems, overall recycling rates have stagnated at around 45 per cent. This results in a large number of drinks containers either left polluting the countryside, waterways and streets, or being sent for incineration or buried in landfill, rather than recycled.

Earlier this month the Scottish government announced its plans to introduce a deposit return system for glass, plastic and aluminium drinks containers of all sizes. CPRE is calling for the UK government to build on Scotland’s ambition by introducing a fully comprehensive ‘all-in’ system, including all drinks containers of all sizes and materials, to make sure that England gets the most effective and economically viable deposit system in the world.