Scotland’s DRS delayed until late 2025 after glass exclusion row

08 Jun 2023 --- Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS) plans have been further delayed until October 2025 at the earliest after the UK government refused to include glass in the scheme. Ministers in London fear that if Scotland rolls out its plans ahead of the rest of the UK, it could violate the post-Brexit internal market act.

DRS plans in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are far behind those of Scotland, and an earlier implementation in one nation could create trade barriers and price differences across borders.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, stated, “We have been left with no other option” than to delay the scheme “contrary to the will of the Scottish parliament and the all UK basis on which we planned.”

Slater further said that the move will “change the playing field for non-glass drinks producers, creates massive new uncertainty for businesses with conditions for interoperability with schemes for the rest of the UK that have not even been legislated for and even then may not be clear.”

This is the third time Scotland’s DRS plans have been delayed, as internal market disputes earlier this year pushed implementation till March 2024.

Industry concerns
Some industry bodies, including the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA), welcomed the decision.

In a statement, the association says it has “led the charge in arguing against the inclusion of glass in any DRS scheme on grounds it was unimplementable, would fail to achieve its aims and penalize some businesses and consumers.”

“Put simply, excluding glass from the scheme is more environmentally friendly, will allow better quality glass recycling and avoids the risk of fraud. We are committed to reducing the amount of packaging placed on the market and improving recycling rates but have always said that this is best achieved by improving kerbside collection for glass.”

Meanwhile, Circularity Scotland, an organization set up to ensure the roll-out and operation of the DRS, calls for the Scottish government to push ahead with the scheme regardless of the exclusion of glass.

Waste management company Biffa, the official logistics partner for the scheme, is also rallying against the delay after investing £65 million (US$81 million) in property, vehicles and counting equipment for the DRS.

Biffa CEO Michael Topham says the ramifications of the delay could send a “seismic and detrimental signal” to businesses invested in the scheme.

Edited by Louis Gore-Langton

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