Humza Yousaf urged to ‘hold his nerve’ on UK’s first deposit return scheme
E
nvironmental campaigners are calling on Scotland’s First Minister to “hold his nerve” and press forward with the UK’s first deposit return scheme (DRS) – regardless of the row it has provoked with Westminster.
Humza Yousaf has insisted the plans for the scheme in Scotland are in “grave danger” after the UK Government dominated the environmental initiative might solely go forward with out glass bottles included in it.
Mr Yousaf and members of his cupboard are to think about whether or not to press forward with the scheme after they meet on Tuesday.
Campaigners insisted that ditching the initiative – which might see a 20p deposit charged on drinks in cans and bottles, with the cash returned when empty containers are introduced again for recycling – would solely profit large enterprise.
Tuesday’s cupboard assembly comes within the wake of Westminster insisting it might solely grant a restricted exemption to the Scottish scheme from the UK Internal Market Act – with this wanted because the scheme north of the border is available in forward of comparable plans for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr Yousaf stated and not using a full exemption – which might enable DRS to incorporate glass bottles in addition to plastic bottles and cans – the UK Government was “in danger of sinking this scheme in its entirety”.
He has referred to as on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to permit the scheme to go forward with glass bottles in it.
Dr Kat Jones, director of the group Action to Protect Rural Scotland, which has led the marketing campaign for DRS north of the border, stated even when the UK Government fails to “do the right thing” on glass, the Scottish DRS ought to nonetheless proceed.
She insisted: “If Westminster do not do the right thing, though, and it seems unlikely they will, the First Minister must hold his nerve and press on with cans and plastic bottles.
“Dropping the whole system and accepting the failing status quo would only benefit those big businesses who have always opposed deposit return. It’s obviously cheaper for them if we keep picking up the cost for their products.”
There continues to be the chance to make substantial environmental advantages from a deposit return scheme. We should nonetheless push ahead with what we will
Catherine Gemmell, Scotland conservation officer for the Marine Conservation Society, stated: “Scottish ministers still have the power to reduce drinks-related litter, even without the inclusion of glass.
“Plastics remain the most substantial problem, with an average of 168 pieces found every hundred metres.
“Plastic bottles and cans end up on our beaches and in our seas in vast numbers. In fact, more than 80% of the drinks containers wasted are cans and plastic bottles.
“There is still the opportunity to make substantial environmental benefits from a deposit return scheme. We must still push forward with what we can.”
Kim Pratt, round financial system campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, stated: “After years of planning and preparation, Scotland’s deposit return scheme – a simple and effective way of improving our recycling rates – cannot be thrown in the bucket.”
She added: “It’s not acceptable for Westminster to play politics during a climate emergency.
“The UK Government should be looking to match the ambition of the schemes in Scotland and Wales, not forcing them down to the lowest common denominator.”