PEOPLE are being asked to send images of bottles and cans littered across the country to Rishi Sunak in a bid to allow Scotland to push through its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) have put out a call for people to send photos of their litter to the Prime Minister.
The group said on Twitter: “If you spot a bottle or can, return it to Rishi. At 6pm tonight, we are asking for photos of littered bottles and cans to be sent directly to the PM as we ask him not to block Scotland’s DRS.”
If you spot a bottle or can, return it to Rishi. At 6pm tonight, we are asking for photos of littered bottles and cans to be sent directly to the PM as we ask him not to block Scotland's deposit return.#ReturnToRishihttps://t.co/kZTuLfrlHK pic.twitter.com/sIPtcRnuNg
— APRS (@APRScotland) May 23, 2023
It comes as members of the APRS and volunteers from Fife Street Champions have called on Tesco to support Scotland’s DRS.
Campaigners brought litter-filled trolleys to the supermarket’s branch in Duloch.
They were filled with cans and bottles which had been collected by local litter picking group Fife Street Champions.
Director of APRS Kat Jones said: “Everyone is trying to make changes to address the waste we produce and ensure a more sustainable Scotland.
“However, some, such a supermarkets, have far greater responsibility in doing so. At this stage, calling for further delays to the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme is a betrayal of our environment.
“A deposit return scheme is a key circular economy policy which aims to address litter and waste. This week I received some online advertising from Tesco saying that they are ‘committed to putting less plastic in your trolley’ but are they committed to less plastic on our streets and in our countryside.
According to APRS, the average Scottish household buys roughly 130kg of single-use grocery packaging each year, at a cost of almost £250, generating 650,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
The Scottish scheme was originally due to begin in April 2021 although it has since been delayed.
Speaking at Holyrood on Tuesday, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater refused to be drawn on how much compensation would need to be paid out if the scheme were ditched.
Campaigners say the DRS will reduce litter by one third and result in £62 million annual savings nationwide.
Tesco have recently called on the Scottish Government to delay the scheme for a fourth time to align with the introduction of its launch in England.
David Spence, a volunteer with litter picking group Fife Street Champions, said: “If you run a profitable business and your business activity has a negative effect on the environment, either directly or indirectly, then surely you have a moral duty to do all you can, to mitigate that effect.”
The National has approached Tesco for comment.
