The long-awaited deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland has been officially delayed until at least October 2025, after industry leaders warned Scottish ministers against making further progress without support from Westminster.
According to a report from The Grocer, the Scottish government met with retail representatives this week where they decided to push the scheme back to when the UK roll-out is said to begin.
Scotland’s DRS originally had a proposed launch date of 1 March 2024, but it will now be delayed until at least the end of 2025, leaving large compensation claims from companies that have spent millions preparing for the launch.
The Scottish government originally had support from the UK, but claim that last-minute restrictions imposed by Westminster, such as not allowing the scheme to include glass, were unacceptable.
When finally introduced, the deposit return scheme will see a 20p charge placed on drinks containers, which consumers would be able to claim back when they return the bottles and cans.
The scheme aims to dramatically reduce litter and plastic pollution in England, although might also result in reduced choice and more plastic in Scotland, according to Iceland boss Richard Walker.
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“We welcome the decision to delay DRS Scotland to align with DRS across the rest of the UK in October 2025,” BSDA director general, Gavin Partington told The Grocer.
“We now urge the UK government to publish a blueprint for how it intends to achieve an October 2025 start date, particularly regarding how it intends to fulfil the conditions set out in its letter to the Scottish government,” he said.
Deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, Ewan MacDonald-Russell, commented: “Scotland’s retailers have very significantly invested in good faith to deliver a deposit return scheme.
“That includes years of engagement with government, development of systems and store refits, and a financial commitment which already runs into the tens of millions.”
He added that this has “serious implications for that investment, which has been committed at a time where retailers have devoted every other effort to grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.”
MacDonald-Russell concluded: “Retailers will need to take time to fully understand the implications of today’s decisions and consider what the most appropriate next steps are.
“In the short term, retailers are likely to pause any further investment until we have a clear operational plan and a final credible critical path to delivering the scheme.”
