Industry warns SNP/Greens to ‘consider soberly’ on UK government’s ‘constructive DRS proposals’

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The UK government has confirmed reports that it greenlighted Lorna Slater’s bottle scheme on a pilot basis after “listening to concerns” from members of the industry.

Now industry members are calling on DRS Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater and the “outraged” hordes of MSPs to “consider soberly what appear to be constructive proposals”.

The SNP/The Greens have failed to win over the biggest supermarkets and the overwhelming majority of hospitality venues, drinks producers and retailers to the Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS), but now say they are “outraged “by the verdict of the British ministers.

READ MORE: SNP in ‘absurd outrage’ at Westminster DRS power move as it ignored ‘sirens’

The launch of DRS Scotland 2024 comes a year before the UK government plans its own recycling scheme for 2025. Scotland will now act as a pilot scheme for the rest of the country, with hopes it will soon roll out to across the UK.

A glass exclusion will be included, reflecting the success of other schemes while facing the risk of a trade barrier and a major blow to the wine industry which has warned the extra costs will cause choice to drop dramatically consumers.

Threats of compensation running into the millions if the project did not go ahead were also deterred by the compromising offer.

Nicola Sturgeon has weighed in on the DRS controversy (Image: Getty)

MSPs SNP/Greens said the bid “treats the Scottish parliament with contempt”, but industry groups welcomed the move.

Even Nicola Sturgeon MSP weighed in on the matter, saying: “‘You can have delegated powers but only use them if you do exactly what we tell you’ is not decentralization in any meaningful sense. It is to increasingly clear that true self-government requires independence.”

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, which represents stores and supermarkets, said: “To give businesses the best chance of launching successfully, they urgently need an approach that can work in the four countries, which avoids unnecessary differences and provides definitive clarification on the parameters of the regime.

“Retailers have consistently warned that the inclusion of glass containers increases the cost and complexity of the system; and many of the most insurmountable problems of the Scottish system are a consequence of the inclusion of glass containers.

“Nevertheless, such a change to the program with only ten months to go would be a challenge for companies that have in good faith invested in more expensive infrastructure to accommodate these containers.”

He added: “Business hopes Scottish Ministers will soberly consider what appear to be constructive proposals from the UK Government and take a final decision on the scheme before the end of this month.”

“Deposit return systems need to be consistent across the UK…”

The UK government spokesman said: “The government remains steadfast in its commitment to improving the environment, while safeguarding the UK’s internal market.

“The drinks industry has raised concerns about the Scottish Government’s deposit return system differing from plans for the rest of the UK, leading to the Scottish Government reviewing and suspending its system earlier this year.

“We have listened to these concerns and that is why we have accepted the Scottish Government’s request for exclusion from the UK Internal Market (UKIM) on a temporary and limited basis to ensure the Scottish Government’s program aligns with planned programs for the rest of the UK.

“Deposit return systems need to be consistent across the UK and this is the best way to provide a simple and efficient system. A system with the same rules for the whole of the UK will increase collection rates recycling and reduce waste – while minimizing disruption to the beverage industry and ensuring simplicity for consumers.”

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