Scotland set for bottle deposit scheme in only 2yrs – minister
A DEPOSIT scheme for bottles and cans could be introduced in Scotland as early as 2019, ministers have announced.
Nicola Sturgeon confirmed last week that she will introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS), where people pay a small fee on bottles and cans to be refunded if they return empty containers to collection points.
Her announcement followed a successful Scottish Daily Mail campaign calling for a scheme to help tackle waste and clean up Scotland.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said yesterday she hoped the initiative could be running as early as 2019.
She also said she hoped it could play a part in substantially increasing recycling rates in Scotland. Some countries which run similar schemes now recycle up to 98 per cent of all bottles and cans.
The Government does not need to introduce legislation to launch the scheme as the Climate Change Act 2009 allows it to be brought forward.
Miss Cunningham said: ‘There has to be a continuing conversation so that the scheme we develop works for all people and then that will go to consultation and we will introduce it using regulatory powers.
‘We do recognise there are challenges for some of the small shops which do not have space and we do need to look at that.
‘But there are many countries in Europe already operating some form of deposit return scheme so it can’t be beyond our abilities to design a scheme that works for Scotland and that’s what we intend to do.’
She added: ‘There have been concerns and opposition to it but some of that does look like it is starting to change.
‘In so far as we can, we want to try to do this bringing on the maximum number of people we possibly can. I think the feeling this year was, though, we really have to do it.’
She said it would take up to a year for Zero Waste Scotland to fully design a scheme, which will then go out to consultation.
Asked whether it could be fully operational in 2019, she said: ‘I don’t think that would be beyond the bounds of possibility, although I don’t want to tie us to that in case there are major issues.’
Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens all support the introduction of a DRS, while the Conservatives are prepared to give support if a series of their concerns are addressed.
Among the issues to be considered is the level that the refundable deposit is set at.
Campaigners have suggested 10p but Miss Cunningham said it does not have to be one price and could vary. She said: ‘We have to find the right place to put that. It has got to be enough to incentivise the return but not so much that it begins to create problems in and of itself.’
John Mayhew is director of the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, which is running the Have You Got The Bottle campaign. He said: ‘The sooner this system can start, the sooner we will all see the benefits, but equally if it’s going to be done correctly that will take a little time.’