Plans for a Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles in Scotland are moving forward
Plans for a clampdown on single use plastics in Scotland are moving forward.
Industry expertise and advice on the implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland is to be sought.
The Deposit Return Scheme Implementation Advisory Group will provide industry input and guidance on delivering an effective scheme, as well as testing assumptions and decisions about its implementation.
The plans could see customers pay a deposit on top of the price of a drink, which is then refunded when the container is recycled at a designated point of return.
Similar schemes are common across Europe, with some countries achieving recycling rates of 95% compared to 50% in Scotland.
The advisory group includes the British Soft Drinks Association, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Natural Hydration Council, the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Scotch Whisky Association.
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Scotland’s deposit return scheme is a chance to dramatically increase the recycling rate for the two billion drinks containers in circulation in the country. Making that happen will require the support and expertise of the people that produce and sell those drinks, and we’re pleased to have the involvement of representatives from across a range of sectors.
“Deposit return schemes have already proven very successful abroad, and some of the organisations represented on this group have experience of operating in those markets. With so much evidence and expertise to draw on, we can make Scotland’s deposit return scheme truly world leading.”
Visiting Highland Spring’s Blackford facility, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am proud of the fact that Scotland was the first part of the UK to commit to a deposit return scheme as part of our wider efforts to prevent discarded drinks containers from ending up in our streets and seas.
“This new group will provide expert advice on practical issues related to the implementation and operation of the scheme in Scotland, with a specific focus on system administration, procurement, fraud prevention and social benefits. The group will also consider how the scheme will interact with the consumer, and the production, retail and hospitality industries, which will be key to its success.
“Not only will deposit return be an effective way of increasing recycling rates and reducing litter, it will also increase the quality of recycled materials collected in Scotland, which could be a benefit to industry based here. Businesses want to increase the amount of recycled content in their packaging, leading to an increasing demand for recycled materials of high quality.”
