Scotland's deposit return scheme will now not launch until March 2023, the country's First Minister has announced. The scheme, which is aimed at increasing the number of single-use drinks bottle and cans that are recycled, due to start in August, has faced fierce opposition from many small breweries and distillers. Humza Yousaf announced the delay when setting out the governing Scottish Nationalist Party’s priorities over the next three years.

“British Glass welcomes the decision by the Scottish Government to pause the introduction of the DRS to March next year. It’s vital that the Scottish Government uses the time to simplify the scope of the scheme and align it with England and Northern Ireland which decided not to include glass. We are confident that Extended Producer Responsibility, which is being introduced next year, will lead to higher glass recycling rates, in line with those expected in a DRS. It is also clear that there is a growing consensus that there should be closer alignment across the differing schemes, or a single UK-wide scheme, which we urge politicians across the UK to consider seriously.” Phil Fenton, Lead Packaging and Recycling Adviser, British Glass

www.britishglass.org.uk