Shop homeowners out of pocket as Scotland’s recycling plan for drinks containers may collapse

Scotland’s recycling plan for drinks containers may collapse after a row erupted over whether or not to incorporate glass bottles.

Scotland’s deposit return scheme would enable customers to swap bottles and cans for money or coupons.

However, the UK authorities’s choice that tumbler bottles can’t be included has result in reviews the scheme in Scotland may collapse.

A deliberate launch of the scheme for August 2023 has been pushed again to March subsequent 12 months – however with glass bottles not included.

It is now considered doubtless Scotland will wait to hitch the UK-wide scheme when it launches in 2025.

It comes after many small companies in Scotland made important investments to arrange, together with putting in reverse merchandising machines that may gather containers and print out vouchers.

Mo Razzaq, store proprietor and Labour councillor, instructed Sky News he has eliminated an ATM machine at his retailer in Glasgow to accommodate the machine.

“We spent over £10,000 on this room alone,” he mentioned, as he confirmed us round.

He identified a ramp for wheelchairs and a sink for customers to scrub their palms after dealing with discarded objects.

“That £10,000 we’re not going to get back and we don’t know what’s going to happen with the scheme. We’ve paid for a machine we can’t use,” he added.

Mr Razzaq, who can also be vp of the Federation of Independent Retailers, mentioned he paid £15,000 for the machine, which separates aluminium and metal cans, and plastic from glass.

“We were told all along that that is what is going to be included. This is the machine we were specified was required so that’s what we purchased.”

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If the scheme goes forward with out glass, Mr Razzaq says he’ll lose cash as a result of his machine would must be modified to a plastic/can-only system.

Earlier this week, the UK authorities confirmed the deposit return scheme can go forward however mentioned there may be “insufficient justification” for glass bottles to be included.

Scottish ministers responded with claims devolution is “under sustained attack”.

First Minister Humza Yousaf mentioned on Thursday: “We’ve seen the UK government determined to ride roughshod over a measure to improve recycling and dramatically reduce litter, by seeking to sabotage regulations that this parliament passed on bottle and can recycling and that is simply unacceptable.”

Colin Borland, director of Devolved Nations, mentioned: “Smaller producers have suffered weeks and months of uncertainty following the saga of the DRS already, so this latest plot twist won’t be setting any of their minds at ease.

“As we look forward to the Scottish authorities to resolve whether or not or to not proceed with the scheme beneath these new phrases, we’d remind choice makers of the significance of enabling small companies to make plans with confidence and a full understanding of what’s required of them to allow them to play their half in making it a hit.”