W RTH

FRASER WILSON

Consumers across South Lanarkshire will soon be expected to pay over the odds for most drinks as the Scottish government tackles climate change.

But customers can expect to get the money back whilst doing their bit for the environment. Roseanna Cunningham MSP announced the new scheme, targeted at plastic drinking containers, cans and glass, last week. The environment secretary told Holyrood that the plans would see consumers pay an additional 20p more, per container as part of a new deposit/return scheme. Targeted will be polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers, which typically carry fizzy drinks and water, and glass. But HDPE-made plastic bottles –typically used to carry milk – will not be included. Retailers across the area – no matter their size – have been told they will have to comply with the scheme. But, the ins and outs of the it have yet to be clarified, with shop and business owners in the dark as to how it will affect them – a problem seemingly shared by the local authority. Shirley Clelland, head of fleet and environmental services at South Lanarkshire Council, told the Reformer that the proposals had been “noted with interest”. She added: “We will be looking into the details to determine the implications they will have for the council.”

Announcing the plans as part of the government’s climate action plan, Ms Cunningham told fellow MSPs that a “return to retail” model would be adopted.

Effectively, 20p will be added to the price of a single-use drinks container bought from a shop, which will act as the ‘deposit’.

Consumers will then get this back when they return the empty bottle or can to the retailer. The scheme will operate throughout Scotland, including rural areas, and will apply to all containers above 50ml and up to three litres in size.

Businesses selling drinks that are opened and consumed on site – such as pubs, cafes and restaurants – will not have to charge the deposit to the public.

Empty containers will be accepted as a return over the counter, or by using a reverse vending machine (RVM) – the likes of which are supplied by East Kilbride company, Excel.

RVMs scan containers when they are returned, before refunding deposits to the consumer either as 20p cash, a token or discount voucher, or digitally as a reimbursement.

Returned containers will be stored in the machine before being collected for recycling.

As well as retailers and hospitality businesses, schools and other community hubs will be able to act as return locations.

An independent, privately-run, not-for-profit company will be in charge of the scheme, with three sources of funding – unredeemed deposits, revenue from the sale of materials and a producer fee – used to implement and maintain