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| Minister Lorna Slater remains firm on bottle return scheme date | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Scottish Greens co-leader and Scottish government minister Lorna Slater says businesses are backing the scheme | |
| The minister responsible for Scotland's bottle return scheme has insisted launch day will remain 16 August. | |
| Lorna Slater said it would be a "kick in the teeth" for businesses if the project was delayed further. | |
| Drink producers wanting to sell in Scotland from mid-August have until midnight on Tuesday to register. | |
| However, the Scottish Conservatives have called for an independent inquiry into the scheme which will see a 20p charge on drinks in cans or bottles. | |
| That deposit will be returned to the customer when the containers are brought back for recycling. | |
| Bottle return scheme could cause carnage - Forbes | Bottle return scheme could cause carnage - Forbes |
| Why is Scotland's deposit return scheme under fire? | Why is Scotland's deposit return scheme under fire? |
| Circular Economy Minister Ms Slater told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that a grace period for smaller producers was being considered. | |
| However, she added: "No-one with any credibility to support business in Scotland would delay the scheme any further because those businesses that have made that substantial investment, shops that have got their planning permission for their reverse vending machines - they don't get that return on that investment until those 20 pences start flowing." | |
| A Scottish government spokesman said similar initiatives were common in European countries and have been effective. | |
| Ms Slater urged any producers with concerns about meeting their obligations to get in contact with the relevant organisations. | |
| She said: "We have always said we will take a pragmatic approach to implementation, to ensure that as many businesses as possible can be part of Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme and can continue to sell in Scotland after 16 August." | |
| Scottish businesses have been set a deadline to sign up for the recycling initiative | |
| The Scottish Tories have called for an emergency statement to clear up the many "unanswered" questions. | |
| Producers will have a legal responsibility for the collection and management of drinks containers covered by the scheme and they have until midnight on Tuesday to sign up. | |
| But industry figures have warned it could impose potentially catastrophic costs on their businesses. | But industry figures have warned it could impose potentially catastrophic costs on their businesses. |
| All three SNP contenders to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister have raised concerns about the scheme in its current form. | All three SNP contenders to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister have raised concerns about the scheme in its current form. |
| Ms Slater was pressed on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland about what would happen if businesses failed to register by the deadline. | |
| She said they would "in principle not be able to sell into the Scottish market". | |
| But the minister added: "Some small businesses, for example, that feel that they're not able to fully register with the scheme or need a bit of help to make sure they're fully compliant - Sepa and Circularity Scotland have absolutely agreed they will provide that support. | |
| "But the first thing that they need to do is register with the scheme, and then we can help them going forward to become compliant." | |
| 'Not fit for purpose' | |
| Scottish Conservative chief whip, Alexander Burnett, has written to the Scottish government's business manager, George Adam, requesting an emergency ministerial statement. | |
| Tory MSP Maurice Golden said: "It should never have got to the stage where, on the eve of the deadline, key questions about the scheme remain unanswered - such as, will there be a grace period for small producers and, if so, what is a 'small producer'? But, astonishingly, that's where we are. | |
| "This could be cataclysmic for the firms affected. It's no exaggeration to say there are 24 hours to save Scottish businesses." | "This could be cataclysmic for the firms affected. It's no exaggeration to say there are 24 hours to save Scottish businesses." |
| He added: "We all support the principle behind the DRS but in its current form it's not fit for purpose and risks signalling the death knell for Scottish businesses, which face being burdened with unsustainable costs." | He added: "We all support the principle behind the DRS but in its current form it's not fit for purpose and risks signalling the death knell for Scottish businesses, which face being burdened with unsustainable costs." |
| When the SNP and the Scottish Greens struck a deal to share power in August 2021, the two parties papered over some fundamental differences. | When the SNP and the Scottish Greens struck a deal to share power in August 2021, the two parties papered over some fundamental differences. |
| Excluded from their agreement was the concept of "economic growth" which the SNP has placed at the heart of its prospectus for independence but which the Greens have decried as "a relic of outdated economic thinking that is driving the destruction of the planet". | Excluded from their agreement was the concept of "economic growth" which the SNP has placed at the heart of its prospectus for independence but which the Greens have decried as "a relic of outdated economic thinking that is driving the destruction of the planet". |
| Now these two incompatible philosophies have come together with all the grace of a bin full of glass bottles being emptied into the back of a recycling lorry. | Now these two incompatible philosophies have come together with all the grace of a bin full of glass bottles being emptied into the back of a recycling lorry. |
| The Greens see the deposit return scheme as a means to shift responsibility for the consequences of capitalism from the state to business, from taxpayers to shareholders, from consumers to the owners of capital. | The Greens see the deposit return scheme as a means to shift responsibility for the consequences of capitalism from the state to business, from taxpayers to shareholders, from consumers to the owners of capital. |
| But even if you support that approach — and many in the SNP do not — the project has also run into a string of practical problems with confusion and anger about the costs for small firms in particular. | But even if you support that approach — and many in the SNP do not — the project has also run into a string of practical problems with confusion and anger about the costs for small firms in particular. |
| Plus there is the potential impact on cross-border trade with England, both now and if different return schemes are eventually introduced elsewhere in the UK. | Plus there is the potential impact on cross-border trade with England, both now and if different return schemes are eventually introduced elsewhere in the UK. |
| That has provoked another constitutional row, with the UK government making noises about blocking the project. | That has provoked another constitutional row, with the UK government making noises about blocking the project. |
| It may not need to. All three SNP leadership contenders have, to some extent, trashed the original plan. | It may not need to. All three SNP leadership contenders have, to some extent, trashed the original plan. |
| Kate Forbes says it could cause "economic carnage"; Ash Regan wants it to be redesigned or scrapped; Humza Yousaf supports a grace period for small firms. | |
| Which means that, one way or the other, the deposit return scheme as originally designed looks set for the bin — the question is: will the co-operation agreement between the SNP and Greens end up there with it? | Which means that, one way or the other, the deposit return scheme as originally designed looks set for the bin — the question is: will the co-operation agreement between the SNP and Greens end up there with it? |
| Circularity Scotland, which is responsible for running the scheme, recently announced £22m of support to remove upfront charges from some companies. | Circularity Scotland, which is responsible for running the scheme, recently announced £22m of support to remove upfront charges from some companies. |
| However, industry body UKHospitality Scotland has also backed an independent review. | However, industry body UKHospitality Scotland has also backed an independent review. |
| Executive director Leon Thompson said: "The flawed model, complexity and burdens of the scheme will put unnecessary pressure on both businesses and consumers, who are all struggling with the cost-of-living crisis." | Executive director Leon Thompson said: "The flawed model, complexity and burdens of the scheme will put unnecessary pressure on both businesses and consumers, who are all struggling with the cost-of-living crisis." |
| He continued: "Hospitality businesses are not against a scheme, but they want one that takes account of the excellent rates of recycling across our sector and targets resources where DRS can make a difference to littering and sustainability targets. | He continued: "Hospitality businesses are not against a scheme, but they want one that takes account of the excellent rates of recycling across our sector and targets resources where DRS can make a difference to littering and sustainability targets. |
| "The current iteration does none of that which is why a full review is now essential." | "The current iteration does none of that which is why a full review is now essential." |
| Small firms to get recycling scheme support | Small firms to get recycling scheme support |
| Small firms could have bottle scheme grace period | Small firms could have bottle scheme grace period |
| Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has hinted that the UK government might not agree to a UK Internal Market Act exemption for the scheme. | Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has hinted that the UK government might not agree to a UK Internal Market Act exemption for the scheme. |
| The UK government said that following any decision it would be up to the Scottish government whether to proceed with the scheme or not. | The UK government said that following any decision it would be up to the Scottish government whether to proceed with the scheme or not. |
| A UK government spokesman said: "The Scottish secretary has urged the Scottish government to pause its scheme and work with the UK government on a solution that works for both Scotland and the whole of the UK. | A UK government spokesman said: "The Scottish secretary has urged the Scottish government to pause its scheme and work with the UK government on a solution that works for both Scotland and the whole of the UK. |
| "That would be the best way to maximise environmental benefits, minimise disruption to the drinks industry and ensure choice for consumers." | "That would be the best way to maximise environmental benefits, minimise disruption to the drinks industry and ensure choice for consumers." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scottish government | Scottish government |
| Recycling | Recycling |
| Lorna Slater | Lorna Slater |