Scotland’s new Deposit Return Scheme will include aluminium and steel cans as well as drinks containers made of glass and plastic with a 20p deposit as part of plans to combat climate change.
How it works can be seen in the video below
The ambitious scheme is based on successful international equivalents and will be widely accessible, with all shops which sell drinks offering deposit refunds to customers.
The Deposit Return Scheme Implementation Advisory Group is providing industry input and guidance on the scheme’s interaction with consumers, producers, retailers and the hospitality industry, which will be key to its success.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “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, and is now the first to outline its design – one that is ambitious in scale and scope, and which gives the people of Scotland a clear and straightforward way to do their bit for the environment.
“There is a global climate emergency and people across Scotland have been calling, rightly, for more ambition to tackle it and safeguard our planet for future generations. I am therefore delighted to confirm that I intend to implement a system covering PET – the most common form of plastic packaging – aluminium and steel cans, and glass, with a deposit refund set at 20p.
“Supported by international evidence our plans for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme are gathering pace with widespread consensus demonstrating that a well-run, appropriately-targeted scheme could improve the environment, change attitudes to recycling and litter, and support a more circular economy.”
UKHospitality has reacted to confirmation of the deposit return scheme for Scotland.
UKHospitality Executive Director for Scotland Willie Macleod said: “Hospitality businesses are committed to supporting efforts to tackle waste and have acted proactively.
“It is encouraging to see the proposed measures consider the difficulties that hospitality venues would face under an inflexible deposit return scheme, although we are still concerned about the scheme as a whole.
“Hospitality venues tend to operate in busy service environments where drinks are, by and large, bought for consumption on the premises. Drinks bought and sold in venues such as pubs, hotels, bars and restaurants are done so in a closed loop. The scheme does account for this and avoids the potential for businesses such as pubs, hotels or restaurants to be inundated with returns purchased in supermarkets or other shops.
“Although the scheme does provide some breathing room for hospitality, there is still the potential for it to be fraudulently exploited. Additionally, if Scotland-specific packaging is required to mitigate the potential for fraud, then customers could end up with much less choice and higher costs.
“The scheme in Scotland may be used as a model for the rest of the UK, but it is disappointing that we don’t already have a cohesive, UK-wide approach in place.”
The Scottish Beer & Pub Association has also commented on the proposed deposit return system announced by Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham to the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, saying the inclusion of glass is ‘deeply disappointing’.
Commenting, SBPA CEO Brigid Simmonds said: “The SBPA has supported a DRS for plastic containers as part of our continued commitment to reduce waste, improve recycling and support a circular economy. The Cabinet Secretary’s announcement today provides greater clarity for the Scottish beer and pub industry.
“We are also glad the Cabinet Secretary has listened to the nation’s pubs by allowing them to decide whether or not to pass on the deposit to the customer, or to operate a ‘closed-loop’ system, which works directly between pub and supplier.
“The inclusion of glass containers inside the system is, however, deeply disappointing to our members and the wider industry. Including glass inside a DRS substantially increases costs and adds complexity to the system. This will impact consumers and creates significant challenges for Scotland’s pubs. Many pubs simply do not have the storage space for glass. It cannot be crushed and therefore the storage requirements are huge for smaller premises in pubs or small shops.
“We still remain concerned about the impact DRS could have on the rest of the UK. Producing separate bottles for a Scottish market will add considerable costs for producers and it would be much better if there was a system which worked on a UK-wide scale. Not only would this limit the impact on businesses and jobs in Scotland, but it would help reduce incentive for fraud. Setting a deposit of 20p has the potential for undermining minimum-unit pricing and will make a low-alcohol product like beer more expensive than higher alcohol drinks.
“A positive of the proposed system is that it will be industry-run on a not-for-profit basis. Best practice from around the world shows this is the best way to ensure an efficient, well-run system.
“Moving forward, the SBPA will continue to work with the Scottish Government as part of their industry implementation group. This will help minimise the negative impacts of these proposals and support a cost-effective system which meets our collective ambitions and works for consumers, brewers and pubs.”
Doubtless there will be more debate about the details, but the basic proposition should be welcomed, the Deposit Return Scheme will help reduce waste that blights UK society in 2019.
H&C News sees the Deposit Return Scheme as a good thing. So we say, “Well done the Scottish Government”.