Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme delayed until 2025

The Scottish Government will delay plans to introduce the UK's first deposit return scheme (DRS) until October 2025 at the earliest, the minister who was responsible for the scheme has told MSPs at Holyrood.

The scheme was due to be introduced in March next year but Scotland's circular economy minister, Lorna Slater, said in statement at the Scottish Parliament the UK Government had left "no other option" apart from delay.

She said UK Government conditions, including the removal of glass from the scheme, "blow a massive hole in any certainty" provided to businesses by the scheme.

She told MSPs: "As of today, it is now clear that we have been left with no other option than to delay the launch of Scotland's DRS, until October 2025 at the earliest based on the UK Government's current stated aspirations.

"I remain committed to interoperable DRS schemes across the UK provided that we can work in a spirit of collaboration not imposition."

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