Deposit delay ‘demoralising’

Angus and Fife litter pickers say the latest setback for Scotland’s deposit return scheme is “demoralising”.

Volunteers expressed their frustration at the latest delay to the recycling policy that Nicola Sturgeon first announced in September 2017.

Wendy Murray of East Haven Together, which works hard to clean up litter, said: “I think I speak on behalf of all those involved in trying to change behaviours and reduce the amount of plastic in the environment that this news is massively disappointing.”

The deposit return scheme aims to encourage people to recycle more bottles and cans, with shoppers paying a charge that is refunded when the waste is recycled.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said officials were working to finalise “clear milestones for delivery” and that more would be revealed “in due course”.

Wendy said: “It is critical that the government acts quickly to put plans and dates in place for its implementation.

“It was a huge blow when Covid-19 delayed the implementation in April this year.

“But to find that it has been delayed again is demoralising and frustrating.”

Circular economy minister Lorna Slater blamed Brexit and Covid-19 for the hold-up, saying those instrumental in implementing the scheme included the hospitality sector, local convenience stores and small brewers.

Speaking in parliament, she said “the pandemic and the mismanagement of Brexit” had “badly affected” these businesses.

Grant Adams from the St Vigeans Conservation Network in Arbroath said a deposit return scheme “isn’t a new idea”.

“We did that in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

“We took our glass bottles back to the shops and got a deposit back for them.”

He said the scheme would “greatly help the litter problem”.

Meanwhile, he said small operators should not carry the burden.

“It should be down to the big players and then filtered down.

“The likes of your Tescos, Asdas and Morrisons.

“It should be them that lead the way and filter down to the smaller businesses.”

DISAPPOINTED: Wendy Murray of East Haven Together. Picture by Mhairi Edwards.