A controversial new recycling initiative has been delayed for a second time.
The Scottish Government’s deposit return scheme has been pushed back until the autumn of 2025 at the earliest, with circular economy minister Lorna Slater blaming the UK Government.
It was previously due to begin in August this year before being delayed until March 2024 after criticism from many in the hospitality industry.
Responding to the latest delay, Allen Henderson of Sulwath Brewers in Castle Douglas said: “It’s good news, but we’ve all wasted so much time, effort and money putting so much work into this, having a gun held to our heads and being scare mongered into potentially agreeing to something that’s potentially going to be detrimental to your business.
“It was ill-conceived and ill-thought-out. There’s virtually nobody in the industry doesn’t think it’s a good idea as a whole but it was just wrongly thought out in the first instance. I’ve not met with anybody that thought it was being handled properly.
“Any time we hear Lorna Slater talking or being asked any questions, she doesn’t answer any questions and the ones she does answer it sounds scripted and has no idea how it’s been received in the industry.
“She talks about consulting the industry, nobody I know has spoken to her. It’s the big organisations – and even they’ve all said it wasn’t fit for purpose.”
The plan was for people to pay an extra 20p when they bought a drink in a can or plastic or glass bottle, receiving the money back when they returned the container for recycling.
The Scottish Government scheme was set to be the first to be introduced in the UK, but differed from the English project which did not include glass.
Ministers at Westminster said they would only grant an exemption to the Internal Market Act if glass was removed.
Ms Slater, a Scottish Green Party MSP, claimed the decision was “contrary to the will of the Holyrood Parliament”, which had previously voted to include glass.
She said: “It is now clear 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.
“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.
“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.”
Scottish Secretary and Dumfries and Galloway MP, Alister Jack, said: “Deposit return schemes need to be consistent across the whole of the UK to provide a simple and effective system for businesses and consumers.
“The UK Government remains unwavering in its commitment to improving the environment, while upholding the UK’s internal market.”
