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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Deposit return scheme 'will go ahead in August' | Deposit return scheme 'will go ahead in August' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| All types of drinks and all containers above 50ml and up to three litres in size are included in the scheme and the money will be repaid over the counter or by using a reverse vending machine | All types of drinks and all containers above 50ml and up to three litres in size are included in the scheme and the money will be repaid over the counter or by using a reverse vending machine |
| Scotland's bottle return scheme will go ahead in August despite the concerns of producers, the circular economy minister has said. | Scotland's bottle return scheme will go ahead in August despite the concerns of producers, the circular economy minister has said. |
| Lorna Slater also encouraged businesses to sign up to the initiative before the end of the month. | Lorna Slater also encouraged businesses to sign up to the initiative before the end of the month. |
| The scheme is designed to boost recycling via a 20p deposit on single-use drinks bottles and cans. | The scheme is designed to boost recycling via a 20p deposit on single-use drinks bottles and cans. |
| But industry critics fear it will disrupt trade, raise prices and reduce choice. | But industry critics fear it will disrupt trade, raise prices and reduce choice. |
| Asked if it would still launch on 16 August despite all the warnings and criticism, Ms Slater told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "Absolutely. It is all systems go for Scotland's deposit return scheme. | Asked if it would still launch on 16 August despite all the warnings and criticism, Ms Slater told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "Absolutely. It is all systems go for Scotland's deposit return scheme. |
| "Our scheme is very similar to successful schemes around the world that do, as you say, increase recycling but also do that really important piece to reduce litter on our streets. | "Our scheme is very similar to successful schemes around the world that do, as you say, increase recycling but also do that really important piece to reduce litter on our streets. |
| "We have all seen cans and bottles and broken glass. We've got to do something about it and the deposit return scheme is our answer to that." | "We have all seen cans and bottles and broken glass. We've got to do something about it and the deposit return scheme is our answer to that." |
| Why is Scotland's deposit return scheme under fire? | Why is Scotland's deposit return scheme under fire? |
| Scotland must rethink bottle recycling scheme - UK minister | Scotland must rethink bottle recycling scheme - UK minister |
| Unlawful trade barrier warning over bottle return scheme | Unlawful trade barrier warning over bottle return scheme |
| Ms Slater said the scheme had already been delayed to give companies more time to recover from the pandemic. | Ms Slater said the scheme had already been delayed to give companies more time to recover from the pandemic. |
| And she stressed discussions so far had reduced costs to producers and resolved an issue over VAT from the UK government. | And she stressed discussions so far had reduced costs to producers and resolved an issue over VAT from the UK government. |
| The minister added: "I am aware there is still some outstanding concerns from small producers and importers particularly, which I absolutely take seriously, and we are working through solutions to those as well." | The minister added: "I am aware there is still some outstanding concerns from small producers and importers particularly, which I absolutely take seriously, and we are working through solutions to those as well." |
| Ms Slater also defended the concept of the "really exciting scheme" and said it shifted responsibility for litter from the taxpayer to the producers. | Ms Slater also defended the concept of the "really exciting scheme" and said it shifted responsibility for litter from the taxpayer to the producers. |
| Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater was speaking ahead of the party's autumn conference this weekend | Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater was speaking ahead of the party's autumn conference this weekend |
| Earlier Chris Jones, co-founder of drinks company Paragon Brands, expressed concerns about a business that projects sales of, for example 10,000 units, would be invoiced in advance for £2,000 to meet the recycling costs. | Earlier Chris Jones, co-founder of drinks company Paragon Brands, expressed concerns about a business that projects sales of, for example 10,000 units, would be invoiced in advance for £2,000 to meet the recycling costs. |
| He said that in Australia producers were invoiced retrospectively, six weeks after their products are sent to market. | He said that in Australia producers were invoiced retrospectively, six weeks after their products are sent to market. |
| Mr Jones, whose Manchester-based firm imports brands from 12 countries around the world, raised questions about the inclusion of glass in the project as the country already has a "very successful glass recycling system". | Mr Jones, whose Manchester-based firm imports brands from 12 countries around the world, raised questions about the inclusion of glass in the project as the country already has a "very successful glass recycling system". |
| And he warned the craft beer sector could see the choice of products available to consumers cut by up to 40% due to the increased costs, such as producing labels with new barcodes for the Scottish market. | And he warned the craft beer sector could see the choice of products available to consumers cut by up to 40% due to the increased costs, such as producing labels with new barcodes for the Scottish market. |
| 'They can't afford to trade in Scotland' | 'They can't afford to trade in Scotland' |
| Mr Jones told Good Morning Scotland: "There is a huge number of smaller producers who have simply taken the option to stop selling in Scotland. | Mr Jones told Good Morning Scotland: "There is a huge number of smaller producers who have simply taken the option to stop selling in Scotland. |
| "The complications and the cost and the complexity involved in setting yourself up for this scheme just mean that the commercial returns are not there. They can't afford to trade in Scotland." | "The complications and the cost and the complexity involved in setting yourself up for this scheme just mean that the commercial returns are not there. They can't afford to trade in Scotland." |
| On Sunday Scottish Secretary Alister Jack urged the Scottish government to rethink its flagship recycling policy. | On Sunday Scottish Secretary Alister Jack urged the Scottish government to rethink its flagship recycling policy. |
| Mr Jack said ministers should consider waiting for a unified approach with the rest of the UK. | Mr Jack said ministers should consider waiting for a unified approach with the rest of the UK. |
| Speaking to the Scottish Mail on Sunday, he said a UK-wide scheme - due to launch in 2025 - would maximise environmental benefits and minimise disruption to the drinks industry. | Speaking to the Scottish Mail on Sunday, he said a UK-wide scheme - due to launch in 2025 - would maximise environmental benefits and minimise disruption to the drinks industry. |
| The UK government scheme is set to launch in collaboration with the Welsh government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. | The UK government scheme is set to launch in collaboration with the Welsh government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. |
| Reverse vending machines, like this one in Renfrewshire, are already being trialled in Scotland | |
| Scotland would be the first UK nation to introduce a deposit return scheme if it goes ahead in the summer. | Scotland would be the first UK nation to introduce a deposit return scheme if it goes ahead in the summer. |
| The Scottish government originally outlined plans in 2017, saying it represented "a step change in our level of ambition" for recycling. | The Scottish government originally outlined plans in 2017, saying it represented "a step change in our level of ambition" for recycling. |
| It was pushed back to July 2022, with the government blaming the Covid pandemic, then delayed again until August this year. | It was pushed back to July 2022, with the government blaming the Covid pandemic, then delayed again until August this year. |
| Drinks industry critics fear the scheme could create a trade barrier between Scotland and England, as it would require firms to charge higher prices north of the border. | Drinks industry critics fear the scheme could create a trade barrier between Scotland and England, as it would require firms to charge higher prices north of the border. |
| In December the Scottish government review of the scheme found many issues were "yet to be resolved" and said a "fully functioning scheme can not be in operation by August". | In December the Scottish government review of the scheme found many issues were "yet to be resolved" and said a "fully functioning scheme can not be in operation by August". |
| The scheme is being run by Circularity Scotland, Zero Waste Scotland helped design it and advised on its implementation, while environment agency Sepa is the scheme's regulator. | The scheme is being run by Circularity Scotland, Zero Waste Scotland helped design it and advised on its implementation, while environment agency Sepa is the scheme's regulator. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scottish government | Scottish government |
| Recycling | Recycling |
| Lorna Slater | Lorna Slater |
| Alister Jack | Alister Jack |