Calls for container scheme upped

Paisley politicians are urging Buddies to help shape a deposit return scheme for drink containers.

People would pay a small deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use container then get that money back when it is returned empty.

The consultation asks how much the deposit should be, when people could return items and what sort of materials and products should be included.

C o u n c i l l o r Ke n n y MacLaren, member for Paisley Northwest, said: “Deposit return schemes offer the chance to embed a step change in recycling performance.

“Other systems in Europe are achieving capture rates of up to 95 per cent for target materials compared with around 50 per cent in Scotland at present.

“Too many plastic bottles and coffee cups are cluttering up our streets as people irresponsibly litter in our local communities.

“A deposit return scheme, where returning such items to local stores and receive some form of payment or discount on their shopping, would encourage more recycling.”

Councillor Stephen Burns, member for Paisley Southwest, said: “I have already moved a motion at the council to look at the issue of plastic straws and the harm they cause to the environment.

“I am keen to see how we could tackle the issue of single use drinks containers.”

Around 2.5 billion singleuse drinks containers are sold every year throughout the country.

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “I would encourage everyone to have their say on what Scotland’s deposit return scheme should look like, and how it should work.”