The launch of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will be delayed until at least October 2025, the Scottish Government has announced.
The announcement comes after the UK Government declined a request for full exclusion from the Internal Market Act, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater has told Parliament.
Last week, the UK Government set out that aspects of the scheme were required to align with schemes across the UK.
The Scottish cabinet met yesterday to decide on whether the scheme will proceed following a letter sent to the UK Prime Minister by Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf which stated removing glass from the scheme put the future of DRS in “grave danger” in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Replying on behalf of the prime minister, cabinet ministers Michael Gove, Alister Jack and Thérèse Coffey, wrote in a letter: “In your letter of June 2, you note that Scottish businesses may face a competitive disadvantage due to the exclusion of glass from the scheme.
These delays and dilutions lie squarely in the hands of UK Government that has sadly seemed so far more intent on sabotaging this parliament than protecting our environment
“Interoperability of schemes across the whole UK ensures all manufacturers, whether in Clydebank, Carlisle, Cardiff, or Carrickfergus, have the same access to sell their products across the UK internal market.
“The exclusion of glass also ensures consumer choice is not restricted in Scotland, given the risk that differences in scope would have led to some producers choosing not to supply Scotland through online or physical sales.
“As we have granted a UKIM exclusion, there is nothing to prevent you from proceeding with your own scheme next March, on the basis that it would form part of a UK-wide solution to protect our shared market and increase recycling from 2025.”
Following consultations with key businesses including producers, Scottish ministers have said that certainty on “critical elements of the scheme” cannot be provided to businesses until the UK Government publishes more detail and therefore Scotland’s deposit return scheme will not go live until October 2025 at the earliest.
“Sabotage”
Addressing Parliament, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said in a press release: “As of today, it is now clear that we have been left with no other option than to delay the launch of Scotland’s DRS, until October 2025 at the earliest based on the UK Government’s current stated aspirations.
“I remain committed to interoperable DRS schemes across the UK provided that we can work in a spirit of collaboration not imposition. I wrote again last night to the UK Government, to urge ministers to reset a climate of trust and good faith to galvanise and retain the knowledge that has been built in Circularity Scotland and DRS partners in Scotland.
“This Parliament voted for a Deposit Return Scheme. I am committed to a Deposit Return Scheme. Scotland will have a Deposit Return Scheme. It will come later than need be. It will be more limited than it should be. More limited than Parliament voted for.
The announcement of a delay to the Scottish scheme to achieve greater alignment with the rest of the UK may bring some benefits
“These delays and dilutions lie squarely in the hands of UK Government that has sadly seemed so far more intent on sabotaging this parliament than protecting our environment.”
CIWM’s Policy and External Affairs Director, Lee Marshall, commented on the news. “CIWM appreciates that there are benefits to having more consistency across the UK when it comes to a DRS. In this respect, the announcement of a delay to the Scottish scheme to achieve greater alignment with the rest of the UK may bring some benefits.
“We appreciate, however, that plans in Scotland were well advanced and there has been a lot of investment in infrastructure and mobilisation which will be impacted by this development, and so it is not an ideal situation for the implementation of such a fundamental policy change within our sector. We also recognise that waste policy is a devolved matter and therefore may vary between nations.”
“Disappointing outcome”
In response to the ministerial statement, Circularity Scotland Chief Executive David Harris said: “This is clearly a disappointing outcome, which will have a significant impact on investment in Scotland.
“We have made it clear that industry was prepared for the DRS to go live in March 2024, and that a scheme without glass is both economically viable and is an opportunity for Scotland to provide a platform for a UK-wide DRS. Regrettably, further delaying the introduction of DRS will hinder Scotland’s progress towards net zero and mean that billions of drinks containers continue to end up as waste.
“The Board of Circularity Scotland will now consider the impact of this announcement and our immediate priority will be communicating with our people. We will provide further updates in due course.”
Commenting on the announcement, Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, said: “When it comes to implementing a well-designed and high performing DRS, interoperability between neighbouring nations – for the right scheme – is very welcome. Indeed, ensuring compatibility minimises burden and risk, while maximising overall impact, engagement and reward.
Following this week’s announcement, our focus must move quickly to optimising scheme design.
“Following this week’s announcement, our focus must move quickly to optimising scheme design. A variable deposit rate, to this end, is therefore non-negotiable. It supports the use of recyclable packaging (such as aluminium) – an important win for the environment, while also better incentivising consumers to participate in the scheme with higher deposits for larger plastic bottles. By doing so, a variable rate fee has the best opportunity to drive an uplift in recycling rates.
“With time now more on our side, collaboration is key. The supply chain and government need to work closely together to ensure Scotland’s DRS is not only objectively designed, but also effectively aligned to other neighbouring nations. In the intervening period, there is still plenty of work to do to increase recycling rates within existing systems. As always, we’ll be getting on with that crucial job.”
