- Small businesses to benefit
Craft drinks producers and pubs that provide off-sales are among
those that will benefit from changes to Scotland’s deposit return
scheme.
Circular Economy Minister has announced a range of
measures to make it easier for drinks producers and retailers to
prepare for the scheme, while making sure environmental benefits
are still delivered, and repeated the call on the UK Government
to issue an exclusion for the scheme from the Internal Market
Act.
The changes announced are:
- drinks containers of under 100ml will be excluded, removing
miniatures and other smaller containers from the scheme
- products that sell fewer than 5,000 units per year will be
excluded, which will particularly benefit craft producers
- all hospitality premises that sell the large majority of
their drinks products for consumption on the premises will be
exempt from acting as a return point
- the online application process for retailers to apply for an
exemption from providing a return point has been simplified
Circular Economy Minister said:
“Scotland’s deposit return scheme will reduce litter on our
streets, massively increase the recycling of drinks containers
and help meet our net zero ambitions.
“However, to realise these benefits DRS needs to be delivered in
a way that works for businesses, especially for small drinks
producers. The changes I have set out will make the scheme easier
for industry to deliver – especially for craft producers – while
still making sure the vast majority of drinks containers are
captured for recycling.
“To move forward with certainty, the UK Government must stop
delaying the long overdue exclusion from the Internal Market Act.
This damaging Act was imposed on the Scottish
Parliament after Brexit without its consent and creates
confusion and uncertainty for businesses.
“After that Act was passed, we engaged in good faith, following
the agreed process, and have done so for nearly two years now to
agree an exclusion. The UK Government needs to at long last issue
an exclusion, and recognise the right of the Scottish Parliament
to enact legislation in devolved areas without interference.”
Background
Changes to Scotland’s deposit return scheme are subject to
approval of the Scottish Parliament.
The current deposit return scheme regulations include all drinks
from 50ml to 3 litres and place no lower limit on the volume of
sales to qualify for the scheme.
Introducing a threshold of 5,000 units per year will remove many
craft drinks and limited edition products. It is anticipated that
this change will only remove around 0.5% of articles from the
scheme but will remove the need for around 44% of businesses to
apply a deposit to their products.
The Scottish Government will engage with hospitality businesses
on the proportion of sales at which the hospitality measures will
apply, to ensure a balance between support for businesses and
accessibility for consumers.
Drinks producers will have until 12 January 2024 to register for
the scheme.
