- First Minister calls on businesses to sign up.
The First Minister has encouraged drinks producers to register
for Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which will go live on 16
August 2023.
Drinks producers are asked to register with the scheme
administrator, Circularity Scotland, in order to participate in
the recycling scheme and to help ensure that they meet their
regulatory requirements.
The scheme is expected to cut littering by a third, reducing the
amount spent by local authorities on litter clean up, and will
increase recycling rates of single-use drinks containers from the
current rate of approximately 50% towards 90%.
The First Minister has also written today to the UK Prime
Minister, reiterating that the UK Government must exclude the
deposit return scheme regulations from the Internal Market Act.
The Scottish Government first requested an exclusion in July
2021.
The First Minister said:
“Scotland’s deposit return scheme will be a major part of our
efforts to reduce litter, cut emissions and build a greener, more
circular economy. Good progress is being made by industry ahead
of the scheme’s introduction on 16 August, and I am aware of the
significant private investment that has already been made by many
businesses to be ready for the scheme, and the many jobs that are
being created to operate it.
“I would strongly encourage drinks producers to register with the
scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland. This is a vital step
to ensuring everyone who needs to be is compliant with the
regulations and is the best way to make sure that their products
can be sold without issue in Scotland.
“I also want to reassure drinks producers with concerns about the
impact of the scheme. SEPA has made clear that they will take a
proportionate approach to compliance. They will work with
businesses to help them get ready – advice and guidance, not
fines, will be the first step for any business that is clearly
taking action but struggling to meet their obligations.
“The Scottish Government will continue to listen to the concerns
of small producers and will consider if there is any further
action we can take to support them ahead of the scheme going
live.”
Background
A formal process has been agreed between the UK Government and
devolved governments to allow for certain policies to be excluded
from the effects of UK Internal Market Act where relevant
regulations differ between UK nations and agreement has been
reached to manage divergent policy. This has already been used
successfully to exclude Scotland’s ban on certain
single-use plastic items to ensure the ban was effective.
The Scottish Government first requested an exclusion for DRS as
part of the single use plastic exclusion in July 2021. The UK
Government only agreed to grant a narrower exclusion, covering
the single use plastic regulations only. A further request, for a
specific DRS exclusion, commenced in autumn 2022.
