CIRCULARITY Scotland Limited has been confirmed as Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) administrator.
The Scottish Government has approved the application of the not-for-profit body. which represents a combination of drinks producers, trade associations and retailers.
The DRS will require consumers to pay a 20p deposit when they buy a glass bottle, can or PET plastic container. The money will be reimbursed when the empty containers are returned.
Zero Waste Scotland research predicts that 34,000 fewer plastic bottles, cans and glasses will be littered every day once the scheme begins.
Donald McCalman, interim director of Circularity Scotland, said, “The Deposit Return Scheme is a game-changer for Scotland’s ambition to become a greener and cleaner country. It supports a circular economy and the Scottish Government’s ambitious plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. The appointment of Circularity Scotland as a Deposit Return Scheme administrator is a milestone moment – it allows us to begin delivering a world-class DRS that works for everyone. We will work closely with companies and trade associations throughout the supply chain to develop and operate a DRS system that works for all.”
The Scottish Government’s environment and climate change secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, commented, “I am pleased to announce that Circularity Scotland Limited has been approved to operate as a scheme administrator of Scotland’s ambitious deposit return scheme. This is a significant milestone in a scheme which will improve the quality and quantity of our recycling, contribute towards our net zero targets and significantly reduce litter. I am grateful for the industry’s collective commitment to move ahead with the scheme, despite the pressures of Covid-19 over the past year and we look forward to working with them to make the deposit return scheme a success.”
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, added, “This is a huge milestone and a mark of the tremendous amount of work that has been done to prepare a practical and sustainable Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland. We’re extremely pleased that Circularity Scotland will be taking the scheme forward. Scotland’s DRS will be an important part of our journey towards a more circular economy, challenging throwaway culture and contributing to the fight against climate change: reducing emissions by nearly 160,000 tonnes of CO2eq each year – the equivalent of taking 83,000 cars off the road.”
The Scottish Government has commissioned an independent gateway review to assess the impact of the pandemic on the go-live date for the scheme, which is currently scheduled for July 2022.
