Bottle return scheme delayed by ten months
Hospitality businesses raise concerns over deposit plans
A controversial bottle return scheme slammed by hospitality firms – including a Stirling distillery owner – has seen its introduction delayed until next March.
The Deposit Return Scheme would see customers paying a 20p deposit when purchasing a drink in a single-use container and they can then return the empty container to a point and get their deposit back.
Producers would then have the responsibility for the collection and management of drinks containers under the scheme, which was set to begin in August.
However, its introduction attracted anger from across Scotland’s food and drink and hospitality sectors – with one of those critics being Stirling Distillery owner and manager Cameron Mccann.
Speaking to the Observer last month, Mr Mccann accused ministers of not listening to businesses on the scheme and added: “We’ve just come out of a pandemic and in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and now being hit with this – it’s trying to prevent people littering but those who do that now will still do so after this scheme is brought in.”
In a statement to Holyrood on Tuesday, new First Minister Humza Yousaf confirmed the DRS would be delayed as part of what he described as a “reset” in the Scottish Government’s relationship with business.
Mr Yousaf said: “I remain committed to this Scheme as a way to increase recycling, to reduce litter on our streets and on our beaches and help achieve our net-zero ambitions.
“But we recognise the uncertainty that continues to be created as a result of the UK Government delaying the decision to exclude the scheme from the Internal Market Act. We had hoped for a decision on that this week – but it has not come.
“At the same time, I – and the Circular Economy Minister – have heard the concerns of business, particularly about the scheme’s readiness for launch this August. As a result, we will now delay the launch of the scheme to the March 1, 2024. This provides 10 months for businesses to get ready.
“We will use that additional time to work with businesses, and Circularity Scotland, to address concerns with the scheme and ensure a successful launch next year.”
Responding to the move, Mid
Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart urged ministers to go “back to the drawing board” over the plans and said they had been fiercely opposed by local firms.
Mr Stewart said: “I was delighted to learn that the Snpgreen’s disastrous deposit return scheme has been delayed again, this time until March 2024.
“As we know, the scheme was due to start in August, but fierce opposition from many small businesses, who has serious concerns about its viability, means this DRS has been pushed back once again.
“Whilst this will be a huge relief to breweries and distilleries across the region as well as all over Scotland, the SNP are only delaying the inevitable unless they get back to the drawing board and come up with a radically improved scheme.
“The SNP Government also needs to start listening to the concerns of business, instead of pressing ahead with a plan which is currently, totally unworkable.”
It’s trying to prevent people from littering but those who do will still do so after this scheme is brought in Cameron Mccann