Charity groups Greenpeace, the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, and Surfers Against Sewage say the Scottish Green Party minister is expected to announce a further delay to the “already overdue” system.
In a joint briefing to the Scottish parliament, the trio said any delay would lead to increased costs for councils, more litter, and carbon consequences.
Scotland initially planned to roll out the system in April 2021, but this was pushed back to July 2022 to allow businesses “more time to prepare in light of the pandemic”.
Now, the charities say Ms Slater is “expected to confirm or delay the launch date for Scotland’s deposit return system”.
The rumoured delay comes after it is understood there has been pressure on Scotland from Defra, which is keen to see a UK-wide roll-out. In the rest of the UK, a roll-out will begin “from 2024”.
We remain committed to implementing Scotland’s DRS, which will be a UK first
– Scottish Government
When contacted by letsrecycle.com the Scottish Government did not comment on when the DRS would be rolled out, and said the minister would “set out the next steps for creating a circular economy in Scotland, including plans to improve recycling and reduce the impact of waste”.
However, a spokesperson reiterated that the country would implement a “UK first” system.
Risk
According to the three charities, the Scottish Government’s delay would lead to more postponements to the system going forward.
The briefing states: “The interests which have pushed so hard for a second delay despite a first delay of fifteen months would not suddenly and spontaneously decide to act, given that the message would have been clearly communicated that the Scottish Government will not stand its ground.
“Without a financial incentive (e.g. an agreement only to delay within 2022 and only where producers agree to pay the full EPR costs during any such delay) Ministers could not be confident that a second delay would be any more fruitful than the first delay was.”
England
The groups said a delay “would also be a further blow to the UK Government’s plans for an English deposit return system”.
“If the Scottish Government proves unable to stick to its own policy decisions, that would put at risk progress on this issue across the rest of the UK. The retailers and producers in Scotland are largely the same as those who operate across the rest of the UK, and if progress is delayed in Scotland that will only embolden efforts to try to stall deposit return indefinitely elsewhere,” the briefing said.
Several compliance specialists told letsrecycle.com that many producers anticipated a delay in Scotland, stating that the country “isn’t ready” for a rollout.
Useful links
Briefing ahead of November 2021 Ministerial Statement
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