PROMAR's Capacity Building Session on "Strengthening Public Participation in Deposit Return Systems (DRS)" brought together around 40 participants to explore how to improve public participation in Deposit Return Systems. The virtual session was facilitated by the adelphi Research Green and Circular Economy Team and welcomed representatives from the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development (MPEAD), the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat, NGOs, academia, the private sector, and regional PROMAR partners.

The session opened with an introduction to how Deposit Return Systems work within the broader context of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), followed by an interactive discussion on the roles of producers, retailers, consumers, recyclers, and government in making such systems function effectively. Participants also had the opportunity to reflect on what drives or hinders public participation in DRS, setting up a closer look at the economic, infrastructural, psychological, social, and awareness-related barriers involved, and the role of accessible return infrastructure, public education, and strategic communication in overcoming them. International case studies from Barbados, Germany, Malta, Austria, Singapore, and Portugal illustrated how other countries have designed successful Deposit Return Systems and public awareness strategies, offering participants concrete reference points for future DRS initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago.

Watch the recording below to learn more about the strategies discussed to strengthen public participation in Deposit Return Systems: