Scotland’s DRS gets delayed until October 2025

The Scottish Government have delayed the introduction of its planned deposit return scheme until at least October 2025, after the UK Government blocked the inclusion of glass in the scheme.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament today, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater MSP said: “The UK Government has offered no justification for removing one of the most significant parts of the deposit return scheme, the inclusion of glass. We have been left with no other option than to delay the introduction of DRS until October 2025 at the earliest.”

Lorna Slater MSP stated that the Scottish Government proceeded ‘in good faith’ with a deposit return scheme that included glass within the scheme, and that other UK nations also included glass within their scheme until recently. Ms Slater noted a meeting with the First Minister and business groups (including ACS from earlier today, where businesses provided feedback on the importance of clarity and consistency of regulations.

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “It has become increasingly clear that a workable DRS system, interoperable with future schemes in the rest of the UK, cannot be put in place by March 2024. This is disappointing, but it is the right decision to work towards the launch of interoperable schemes across the UK in October 2025.

“It is absolutely essential that the governments of the UK work together to introduce a scheme that works for everyone, is effective at increasing recycling rates, and does not impose unnecessary conditions on the retailers that will be delivering the scheme on the ground.”

The UK Government had granted the Scottish Government a limited exemption from the Internal Market Act to introduce a deposit return scheme, but with the stipulation that glass cannot be included in the scheme. The latest DRS proposals for England and Northern Ireland, due to be introduced in 2025, do not include glass.

ACS’ comprehensive guidance on what a deposit return scheme would look like in store is available here: https://www.acs.org.uk/advice/drs-scotland