And, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week seeking his support to have the scheme exempt from the Internal Market Act, warning that Biffa has already invested £80 million into the scheme.
This comes amid increasing uncertainty surrounding the scheme, with media reports suggesting the UK Government could block parts of it. All three candidates to replace Nicola Sturgeon have also said they will delay the DRS (see letsrecycle.com story).
Register
In a statement earlier today, Circularity Scotland, the scheme administrator for the DRS, said products from a range of sectors including global soft drinks, craft brewers, wine importers and distilleries have been registered with the scheme.
David Harris, Circularity Scotland’s chief executive, said: “We’ve never underestimated the challenge of delivering a scheme which requires the support of so many Scottish businesses. They will all be helping us to reach the goal of recycling billions of PET plastic, glass and metal drinks containers a year.
“I would encourage those producers who have begun their registration to complete it as soon as possible and can assure those producers who have yet to sign up, that we have people on hand to support them through the process.”
The scheme regulator Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has confirmed registration will remain open to enable all producers to register in time for the scheme’s planned launch on 16 August.
Return points
With most producers registered, today also sees the opening of registration for return point operators (RPOs), Circularity Scotland noted.
The organisation explained an RPO is anyone who provides a services for the collection of the in-scope containers and refunds consumers’ deposits. This can range from accepting returns over the counter and refunding consumers’ deposits from the till to operating a reverse vending machine which will automatically accept containers and refund deposits as vouchers, it added.
According to Circularity Scotland, most retailers and hospitality businesses that sell drinks to take away are legally required to operate a return point, including online drinks retailers. Online drinks retailers can however apply for an exemption with Zero Waste Scotland, which will be based on proximity to other return points or environmental health reasons, the administrator concluded.
Business confidence
Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s letter to Rishi Sunak called for the “UK government’s continuing constructive support in finalising the terms of an exclusion from the terms of the Internal Market Act in line with the procedure agreed between our governments”.
In the letter dated 28 February, Ms Sturgeon expressed concerns about press coverage that “gives the impression that the Scottish government has not yet requested an exclusion for DRS from the Internal Market Act’s market access provisions, and that the UK Government is not minded to agree such an exclusion”.
Ms Sturgeon pointed out that this comes at a critical moment for the scheme. She noted the private investment already made by retailers and producers in preparation and Biffa as the scheme’s logistics partner. “This leveraging of private investment reflects confidence in the scheme,” the letter added.
“As the process has now been in train for a considerable time, I hope that momentum can be maintained and I would be grateful for your support to give businesses the clarity they need,” Ms Sturgeon concluded.
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