The initiative, which will see funds donated to charity for bottles returned, forms part of a “phased-approach” to rollout of a DRS in Scotland.
When it committed last year to roll out the UK’s first DRS in August 2023, the Scottish government claimed that Orkney would see “a community-run return scheme” in place first.
This was “in recognition that the needs of rural areas may be different from those of more populated parts of the country”.
On Friday (1 April), the government-backed Zero Waste Scotland published a prior information notice and two questionnaires seeking views on the plans.
Scheme
The notice explained that the DRS system, which Zero Waste Scotland called the “Orkney Container Return Initiative’, will provide a “financial contribution to local charity for every container returned”.
This would give Zero Waste Scotland “important data on how people interact with the scheme” and help with potential implementation of similar schemes elsewhere.
It appears this would mean there wouldn’t be a deposit placed on bottles to be returned to the consumer.
The system will accept and collect PET, metal and glass containers, differing from Defra’s stance last week that glass will not be included in England and Northern Ireland.
Notice
In the notice, Zero Waste Scotland said it is interested in potential solutions that can be installed and operational by no later than 31 October 2022; are appropriate to the anticipated type and volume of materials for collection and offer opportunities for support from / benefit to local communities.
The system should be able handle an estimated 51,000 to 57,000 containers per week and store a “reasonable amount of material on site prior to a possible daily collection”.
Any system should also collect the material in a way that “facilitates simple processing post collection (separate collection of each material stream is preferred but other options will be of interest where justification for the approach is provided).
Zero Waste Scotland does not and cannot commit to any future procurement
– Zero Waste Scotland
Ownership
The notice added that it is essential that Zero Waste Scotland does not retain ownership of any assets or equipment at the conclusion of this initiative.
The organisation is also keen to seek input from other interested parties who may be able to offer insight into wider community benefits that might be accrued.
Zero Waste Scotland added: “This preliminary market consultation is being used to inform the development of a future ‘front end’ service provision. Information relating to options and requirements for ‘back end’ service solutions – that is, collection and processing of materials – is welcomed where it can inform potential links between separate service provisions, it is not a primary consideration at this time.
“Zero Waste Scotland does not and cannot commit to any future procurement procedure being required for any items identified in this Prior Information Notice”.
Questionnaires
Two questionnaires have also been published as additional documents.
– the first questionnaire (“Infrastructure Supply”) is intended to investigate the key requirements to ensuring a suitable RVM with secure and appropriate housing is installed and tested for commencement of operation on 01 November 2022
– the second questionnaire (“Community Benefits”) is intended to identify the range of options and opportunities for wider community engagement and benefits that may be possible and appropriate from that date.
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