Scotland will soon be the first part of the UK to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers. It will be available across all of Scotland and will make it easier for everyone to recycle their used bottles and cans, including all drinks sold in PET plastic, metal and glass.
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme has been designed to make it easy for us all to do the right thing. People pay a small deposit of 20p when they buy a drink in a single-use container and then get the deposit back when they return the empty bottle or can.
The legislation is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament. The scheme will go live for the public on 1 July 2022.
Parts of the scheme – including applications for scheme administrators and producer registration – will come into effect before this date.
Deposit return schemes are already established in many countries where they are helping to tackle climate change and reduce litter. Scotland is joining them, with a scheme designed to meet our unique needs, to tackle our throwaway culture and help protect our environment for generations to come.
With Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme going live in 2022, businesses should start to familiarise themselves with the new recycling responsibilities they will have.
From retail to cash flow, find out what you need to know.
In Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, the 20p deposit added to single-use drinks containers moves around the scheme in a circle, meaning no-one is left out of pocket.
Find out how the 20p moves through the scheme.
Hospitality businesses will have new responsibilities for recycling. Their role in the scheme will vary depending on whether they sell drinks to go or to be consumed on their premises.
If you are a hospitality business, find out what your role in the scheme will be in the scheme.
The administrator(s) of the scheme will be responsible for its day-to-day management. From making key decisions on fees and payment terms, to negotiating the handling fee.
Find out more about the scheme administrator(s).
The scheme has been designed to work for everyone in Scotland. It will improve recycling rates, increase the quality of recycling materials, and significantly reduce litter.
20p deposit on drinks containers
70+% of Scots want a Deposit Return Scheme
34,000 fewer plastic bottles littered every day
76,000 additional tonnes recycled each year
17,000+ return points nationwide
90% of containers included in the scheme will be captured for recycling
£62million a year could be saved tackling the indirect impacts of litter
4million tonnes of CO2eq emissions will be cut over 25 years
The latest press releases, news articles and blog posts on Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme.
Final regulations for Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme have now been laid in the Scottish Parliament by Scotland's Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham.
Zero Waste Scotland is inviting stakeholders to join our Deposit Return team for a webinar on the 25th of November from 11.00am – 12.30pm to discuss how Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme will operate in the Scottish islands.
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme will place a 20p deposit on all drinks (both soft and alcoholic) that come in PET plastic bottles, metal cans and glass bottles. Consumers will pay the deposit when they buy a drink and get it back when they return the container for recycling.
