UK Government accused of ‘sabotage’ over Scotland’s deposit return scheme
T
he UK Government has been accused of attempting to “sabotage” Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS) after it dominated the environmental initiative may solely go forward if glass bottles had been faraway from its remit.
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Government minister accountable for implementing DRS, mentioned ministers at Holyrood would now must “look very seriously at where this leaves the viability of the Scottish scheme”.
First Minister Humza Yousaf has already mentioned it could be a “democratic outrage” for the UK Government to solely permit DRS to go forward with out glass.
He took to Twitter to assault Conservative ministers for “demanding” glass be dropped from the Scottish scheme, regardless of rules handed by Holyrood particularly together with this.
“That’s your respect agenda for you right there,” the First Minister mentioned.
He and Scottish Green authorities minister Ms Slater each hit out after the UK Government declared that to ensure that it to permit DRS in Scotland to proceed, the scheme – which now has a begin date of March 2024 – may solely embody PET plastic bottles and aluminium and metal cans.
With comparable schemes in the remainder of the UK not attributable to come into impact till 2025, Scottish ministers had been compelled to hunt an exemption from the UK Internal Market Act, amid issues commerce between the 4 nations could possibly be impacted.
With glass bottles not included within the plans for England and Northern Ireland, UK ministers argued having glass within the Scottish scheme may create a “permanent divergence” available in the market.
A letter from UK Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and minister for intergovernmental relations Michael Gove, despatched to the Scottish First Minister late on Friday evening, added that this is able to be “a very significant step for businesses and consumers, and there is insufficient justification for such an approach”.
This is an eleventh hour try by the UK Government to sabotage Scotland’s deposit return scheme by forcing us to take away glass bottles
Ms Slater, the round economic system minister within the Scottish Government, hit out as she insisted that “once again the UK Government has shown utter disregard for devolution”.
She mentioned: “Scottish ministers received the UK Government’s decision letter at 10pm on a Friday night, more than 12 hours after its contents being briefed to press. This is treating the Scottish Parliament with contempt.
“Despite discussions over the last two years this is an eleventh hour attempt by the UK Government to sabotage Scotland’s deposit return scheme by forcing us to remove glass bottles.
“This is at odds with all the evidence that says the biggest benefits, economically, financially and environmentally, are from including glass.”
Ms Slater added: “We are now going to have to look very seriously at where this leaves the viability of the Scottish scheme and talk to businesses, delivery partners and other organisations over the coming days and weeks.”
She additionally mentioned: “Removing glass also means taking out around six hundred million bottles that would have been collected by the scheme, despite businesses in Scotland having invested millions of pounds in preparation to include them.
“Many of these bottles will unnecessarily end up as broken glass on our streets, our parks and our beaches.”
The Scottish Government had beforehand famous all however six of the 51 deposit return schemes working elsewhere on the earth embody glass, including that forcing Scotland to take away it from its scheme would imply recycling charges for glass bottles stay at an “unacceptable” 63%.
Deposit return schemes should be constant throughout the UK and that is one of the simplest ways to offer a easy and efficient system
A UK Government spokesperson mentioned on Saturday: “The drinks industry has raised concerns about the Scottish Government’s deposit return scheme differing from plans in the rest of the UK, resulting in the Scottish Government reviewing and pausing their scheme earlier this year.
“We have listened to these concerns and that is why we have accepted the Scottish Government’s request for a UK Internal Market (UKIM) exclusion on a temporary and limited basis to ensure the Scottish Government’s scheme aligns with planned schemes for the rest of the UK.”
The spokesperson added: “Deposit return schemes need to be consistent across the UK and this is the best way to provide a simple and effective system.
“A system with the same rules for the whole UK will increase recycling collection rates and reduce litter – as well as minimise disruption to the drinks industry and ensure simplicity for consumers.”
In gentle of the UK Government’s stance, the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) mentioned the “only viable option now” was for a UK-wide initiative to be launched throughout all 4 nations in 2025.
But Dr Kat Jones, director of the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS), which has led the marketing campaign for DRS in Scotland, mentioned Westminster’s determination was “in breach of the basic principles of devolution”.
She mentioned: “The Scottish Parliament first considered a deposit system in 2006 because two primary school pupils were upset that one of their dogs got broken glass in its paw. Those former pupils are now nearly 30 years old and we are still no closer to reducing that risk.
“Westminster has decided, in breach of the basic principles of devolution, that Scotland and Wales must endure glass being littered, landfilled and wasted for years to come.
“The Conservatives explicitly promised deposits on glass for England in their last manifesto, making this a particularly perverse decision.”