BIFFA has been confirmed as the official logistics service provider for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which goes live in August 2023.
Circularity Scotland, the not-for-profit scheme administrator, has signed an agreement with the sustainable waste management company and is also working with Biffa to explore the opportunity to build a PET recycling plant in Scotland to support the scheme and deliver. employment opportunities.
The agreement will see Biffa take responsibility for collecting billions of drinks bottles and cans from return points across Scotland each year, as well as managing the bulking and counting centres that will process material for recycling.
The appointment marks the latest milestone in the development of DRS, following May’s announcement that Circularity Scotland had secured £18 million investment from the Scottish National Investment Bank and Bank of Scotland to support the initial set-up phase of the scheme.
DRS aims to ensure at least 90% of recyclable drinks containers are captured and prevented from becoming waste. A refundable 20p deposit will apply to all single-use PET plastic, aluminium, steel or glass drinks containers ranging in size from 50ml up to three-litre containers. People will be able to return their bottles and cans to thousands of locations, with some venues set to accept items over the counter, while larger stores, shopping centres and transport hubs will operate automatic collection points known as reverse vending machines.
David Harris, CEO of Circularity Scotland, said, “The DRS scheme is a key part of Scotland’s move to a circular economy. It is one of the most significant environmental infrastructure projects ever introduced in the UK and the most comprehensive deposit return scheme anywhere in the world.
“As scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland is working at pace to ensure that the scheme runs effectively and efficiently, and at as low a cost as possible, from August 2023.
“Bringing on board Biffa as our logistics service provider is another landmark moment in this work and their unparalleled expertise in supporting large scale and complex recycling schemes will help us to achieve the aim of capturing and recycling at least 90% of drinks containers made from PET plastic, aluminium, steel or glass.”
Michael Topham, Biffa CEO, added, “We’re delighted to have been appointed to provide logistics, sorting and counting services for Scotland’s landmark Deposit Return Scheme. This appointment is testament to the strength of Biffa’s reputation as a sustainable waste management provider to complex markets, our extensive capabilities and world leading recycling infrastructure.”
