Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme launch postponed
Scotland's new First Minister Humza Yousaf delays launch of the scheme to 1 March 2024, whereby retailers must legally accept returns of empty drink containers for recycling
In his speech to the Scottish Parliament on 18 April, he said, 'I – and the Circular Economy Minister - have heard the concerns of business, particularly about the scheme’s readiness for launch this August. As a result, we will now delay the launch of the scheme to the 1st of March 2024. This provides 10 months for businesses to get ready. We will use that additional time to work with businesses, and Circularity Scotland, to address concerns with the scheme and ensure a successful launch next year'.
He continued, "We have also developed a package of measures to simplify and de-risk the scheme, and to support small businesses and hospitality in particular. The Circular Economy Minister will provide further details to Parliament this week on this package, of the new timetable, and our engagement with the UK Government over the critical decisions now that we need them to make to allow the scheme to proceed in terms of that exemption of the Internal Market Act.
"We recognise the uncertainty that continues to be created as a result of the UK Government delaying the decision to exclude the scheme from the Internal Market Act. We had hoped for a decision on that this week – but it has not come."
