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Governments should think twice before adopting deposit systems for cans and bottles, despite European Commission approval for the German version, an expert has warned.

Julian Carroll (pictured), managing director of the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment, said other governments should take a “hard look” at the consequences of the German system, which sets a €0.25 deposit on one-way packs.

He said that many people “can’t be bothered to claim their money back, so they are just paying more”, and added that retailers hold £280m (€415m) in unclaimed charges.

The commission approved a revised version of the scheme at the end of March, after complaints that it was a barrier to imports.