Shops back bottle scheme

SMALL business owners have backed trials on a bottle deposit scheme in an attempt to tackle damage caused by discarded plastic.

The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN), which speaks for 15,000 corner shops, has given its support for a pilot of the system to be commissioned in Scotland.

At the same time, the organisation’s ruling body says it is time to consider a wider scheme for the entire UK.

The Scottish Daily Mail launched a campaign last month calling for the Scottish Government to introduce a bottle deposit scheme, which would see customers pay up to 10p extra on bottles and cans, with the fee refunded when these are returned empty to collection points.

This newspaper believes the initiative would help to tackle the blight caused by 130,000 plastic bottles and cans dumped every day – while reducing landfill waste.

The NFRN backed the proposal at its Scottish conference in Dundee.

The move follows a landmark decision by Coca-Cola to back trials on a deposit scheme north of the Border after customer surveys indicated support.

Gail Winfield, the newly elected president of the NFRN in Scotland, said: ‘NFRN members are responsible retailers who want to play a role in protecting the environment and who recognise the damage that plastic bottles and cans can do to their surroundings.

‘It’s for that reason we have agreed to support the Scottish Government’s aim of increasing the rate of recycling.

‘We consider it an important enough issue to create a working party comprising like-minded groups to ensure that any deposit refund scheme implemented in the future allows independent retailers to fully play their part.’

The proposals have gained cross-party support at Holyrood, with a motion calling for a ‘prompt decision’.

Although the suggestions have gained support, there have been fears that small business could face cost issues and struggle to find the space needed to collect bottles.

Yesterday’s NFRN decision is therefore a significant move forward and may help persuade those in the retail industry who have voiced concerns.