UK Government will allow Scottish deposit return scheme – however with out glass
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Ok ministers have confirmed Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS) can go forward however have insisted there’s “insufficient justification” for glass bottles to be included.
The UK Government mentioned it could grant the mandatory exemption from laws to permit for DRS to be launched north of the border from March 2024.
In a letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf, although, it was harassed that together with glass within the Scottish scheme might create a “permanent divergence” available in the market as schemes deliberate for different elements of the UK don’t embody this.
This kind of everlasting divergence could be a really vital step for companies and customers, and there’s inadequate justification for such an method
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Government minister accountable for introducing DRS, has promised to replace MSPs on the plans as quickly as potential.
But her Green Party colleague at Holyrood Mark Ruskell accused the UK Government of “environmental blackmail”.
He accused Westminster of “putting their own narrow party political agenda ahead of our environment and our democracy” – including this was “utterly shameful”.
Mr Ruskell added: “At least 550 million glass bottles are sold in Scotland every year. Why wouldn’t we include them in a recycling scheme?”
The Green hit out after UK Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and minister for intergovernmental relations Michael Gove mentioned the mandatory exemption from the UK Internal Market Act could be granted for a Scottish scheme masking PET plastic bottles and aluminium and metal cans solely.
With the Scottish scheme coming in forward of comparable initiatives in the remainder of the UK – which aren’t scheduled to be launched till 2025 – ministers at Holyrood have been pressured to hunt an exemption from the laws to cope with the disruption DRS might trigger to commerce between the 4 nations of the UK.
In their letter to Mr Yousaf – obtained by the Scottish First Minister late on Friday – the UK ministers mentioned there had been “strong representations” from each the hospitality sector and distilleries concerning the influence “on trade and in particular consumer choice created by permanently different arrangements on glass” in numerous elements of the UK.
The three UK Government ministers mentioned: “Our view is that this type of permanent divergence would be a very significant step for businesses and consumers, and there is insufficient justification for such an approach.”
Mr Yousaf has already claimed it could be a “democratic outrage” for the UK Government to solely enable DRS to go forward with out glass.
Regulations handed by Holyrood imply glass bottles, in addition to plastic bottles and drinks cans, are at the moment included within the Scottish Government’s proposed scheme.
The Scottish Government has additionally famous all however six of the 51 deposit return schemes working elsewhere on the planet 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%.
Mr Yousaf took to Twitter late on Friday to complain that “after spending the day briefing the press, UK Government sent us a letter at 9.45pm tonight”.
He mentioned that letter was “demanding we remove glass from DRS, despite the Scottish Parliament voting for regulations which include glass in the scheme”.
The First Minister added: “That’s your respect agenda for you right there.”
A UK Government spokesperson mentioned on Saturday: “The Government remains unwavering in its commitment to improving the environment while also upholding the UK’s internal market.
“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.
“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
“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.
Gavin Pennington, of the BSDA, mentioned its members had “long supported the introduction of an industry-led, interoperable DRS run on a not-for-profit basis to help support a circular economy, reducing litter and increasing recycling”.
He said: “Our members have made significant investments of money, resource and time since 2019 to prepare for the launch of DRS Scotland.
“However, given the level of political uncertainty currently surrounding DRS Scotland, surely the only viable option now is for all stakeholders to commit to launching DRS across the UK on the same timeframe, October 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.”