Viridor and Tomra launch joint bid to operate Scotland’s UK-first Deposit Return Scheme

13 Apr 2021 --- Waste management company Viridor is joining Norwegian recycling innovator Tomra in a bid to design, build and operate the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme’s (DRS) counting and sorting centers.

This year, Scotland voted in favor of a national DRS for drinks containers and will be the first UK country to introduce such a scheme in July 2022.

The DRS will make it easier for consumers to recycle used bottles and cans, including all PET, metal and glass drinks.

Consumers will pay a small deposit of 20p (US$0.28) when they buy a drink in a single-use container and receive the deposit back when they return the empty bottle or can.

Lisa Templeton, a communications and engagement specialist at Viridor, tells PackagingInsights the Viridor-Tomra bid will be submitted as part of the government selection process to find preferred industry partners for the DRS. The bid will be submitted in the summer.

“Paramount importance”
Viridor and Tomra are praising Scotland, saying it has demonstrated a leadership position in developing a circular economy through the DRS initiative.

This policy is expected to drive collection rates on drinks containers to levels in excess of 90 percent, reducing littering and contributing to net-zero climate goals.

“Viridor has a long history of investing in Scottish recycling infrastructure and the DRS offers the opportunity to supplement that investment and contribute to green job creation and the development of a truly circular economy,” says Luke Burgess, Viridor director of business development for polymers.

Scotland will select partners for its UK-first DRS this summer.Burgess emphasizes that Tomra has “extensive global experience” in operating counting and sorting facilities.

The partnership will add this to Viridor’s experience of working with Scotland to deliver its recycling, resource management and wider environmental goals.

“This experience and commitment to the goals of the Scottish circular economy mean we have a very strong offering to make,” says Burgess.

“The successful implementation of DRS in Scotland is of paramount importance if we are to reach the recycling goals of the Plastics Pact, a target that Viridor, a founding member of the Pact, is committed to helping to achieve.”

The UK Plastics Pact plans to eradicate single-use plastic waste and has been signed by more than 40 major players in the food and non-food industry. Leading UK retailers, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose are among the businesses supporting the pledge.

A shared vision
“The Tomra-Viridor partnership is formed under the shared vision to facilitate a modern, cost-effective and best practice Scottish DRS,” Truls Haug, Tomra’s managing director says.

“This will act as a catalyst for sustainable recycling outcomes, delivering key sorting and counting center services to the deposit operator.”

Haug asserts the partnership will form a unique and complementary mix of global and UK-based experience, enabling a “fit-for-purpose” service offer – which, if accepted, could be deployed in time for the scheme’s commencement.

UK launches DRS consultation
The UK’s Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) recently announced an industry consultation launch on introducing a DRS and updated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme in the rest of the UK.

Defra is calling on industry stakeholders to contribute views on how the new schemes will run before 5 June 2021.

This will be the second consultation on EPR; the previous one – in 1997 – occurred before the devolution of Wales and Northern Ireland.

By Louis Gore-Langton

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